Gubernatorial candidate Lord Allan Jay Velasco suffered a narrow defeat in Marinduque province in southern Luzon.
His father Presbitero Velasco, a former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, also failed in his bid for a House seat to represent the province.
The Velasco father-and-son had been governor and district representative, respectively, for several terms. In this year’s midterm elections, they sought but failed to swap positions.
They lost to independent candidates.
Lord Allan Jay lost by 253 votes to Mel Go in the gubernatorial race, while his father lost by more than 16,000 votes to Rey Salvacion in the congressional race, based on partial and unofficial results from the Commission on Elections.
A third member of the family, Mike Velasco, also lost in his mayoral bid in Mogpog town in the same province.
The fate of the Velasco family was an exception in Region 4B (MIMAROPA), where most dynasties won their electoral bids.
In Oriental Mindoro, dynastic rule held firm.
Gov. Bonz Dolor trumped Joanna Valencia, daughter of former governor and lawmaker Rodolfo Valencia, to secure another term.
Antonio “CA Jojo” Perez retained the vice governorship. With no opponent, Arnan Panaligan won as 1st District representative while Pa Umali secured the 2nd District seat.
In Occidental Mindoro, Gov. Ed Gadiano was reelected, while Diana Apigo-Tayag won as vice governor. Odie Tarriela secured the lone congressional seat unopposed.
Palawan remained steeped in familial succession. Amy Alvarez remained as governor, while Onsoy Ola secured the vice governorship.
In Romblon, Arming Gutierrez was elected governor while Budoy Madrona clinched the vice governorship, reaffirming the province’s enduring political continuity through familiar names. — PCIJ.org