The known political clans in Central Luzon remained the dominant figures in this year’s elections. Teams consisting of son and mother, father and son, brothers, and cousins have extended their reign with overwhelming victories. Other members of their families likewise kept their positions. In Pampanga, incumbent Governor Dennis Pineda was given a fresh mandate via a landslide victory against his lone rival, former Candaba Mayor Danilo Baylon. His mother, incumbent Vice Governor Lilia Pineda, ran unopposed. Dennis’ two sisters also won in their respective sought posts. Mylyn Pineda-Cayabyab topped the fight for provincial board member in the second district while

The Commission on Elections Board of Canvassers (Comelec-BOC) proclaimed Tuesday night the winners for the mayoral and vice mayoral positions in this city. Lawyer Mustapha Nasroding, acting city election officer and board of canvassers’ chairperson, proclaimed former city councilor Bruce Matabalao as mayor-elect and Butch Abu as vice mayor-elect at about 11 p.m. Both Matabalao and Abu belong to the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP), the political arm of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Matabalao garnered a total of 36,151 votes to prevail over reelectionist Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi in 172 of 175 clustered precincts. The BOC said Wednesday the

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año on Wednesday ordered the Philippine National Police to beef up security in all canvassing areas and continue to exercise maximum tolerance on poll protest rallies. The order was issued amid reports of protesters demanding an explanation of election glitches during the election day while others are calling for protest actions via the social media as some netizens claim electoral fraud. Año said he recognizes that “people have freedom to express their sentiments and reactions but they must be done within the bounds of law and order.’’ “My order to

To provide more affordable and decent houses for Filipinos, the National Housing Authority in Davao Region (NHA-11) urged the public to help raise the demand for more low-cost real estate developments. “Of course, if there is demand, we have a reason to create more developments to house Filipino government employees, especially the uniformed personnel,” acting NHA-11 district manager Alper John Alcaraz said in a press briefing here Wednesday. Alcaraz said they are still accepting applications for housing projects based in the region that were opened in October 2021. NHA-11 offers well-built units at a price lower than half of the

Reelected Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said the hope of the Filipinos for unity and continuity in the gains of the current administration has resonated throughout the country and became the basis of the overwhelming support for the tandem of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (BBM) and Davao Mayor Sara Duterte. Garcia told reporters shortly after her proclamation Tuesday night that the “too much polarization, bickering, and fighting” have achieved nothing for the Philippines, stressing that the Marcos-Duterte administration will bring the country to greater heights. “That is why so many Filipinos, you call them by whatever name, this message resonates because the

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia on Wednesday vowed to intensify efforts to bring the province of Cebu to a higher level of progress in the next three years following her historic feat of garnering more than 1.4 million votes in Monday’s election. Lawyer Jerome Brillantes, Commission on Election-Cebu supervisor who sits as provincial Board of Canvasser chair, proclaimed Garcia on Tuesday night at the Provincial Capitol’s social hall. After Brillantes declared that all the certificates of canvass from the 51 towns and component cities of the province were received and canvassed, the counsel of One Cebu Party, lawyer Rory Jon Sepulveda, moved