In the recently held May 9, 2016 election, sixteen incumbent vice mayors made their bids for the position of town mayor. Of those sixteen, ten filed their Certificate of Candidacy (COC) to run against their incumbent mayors, three launched their candidacies for mayor, two won by switching positions with their mayor who were barred from running due to term limitations and one was pitted against a former town mayor.
Unofficial results from the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) showed that four incumbent vice mayors who ran against their present mayors won and six lost. The victory of the four vice mayors dispelled the much touted “incumbent advantage” of the mayors.
Three vice mayors lost their bids for mayor, two exchanged positions with their mayors and one went up and lost against a former mayor.
The four incumbent vice mayors (VM’s) who are now mayors of their respective towns are Cortes VM Iven Lim (LP) who won over incumbent Mayor Roberto Tabanera (IND) 6,408 to 2,071 votes, Anda VM Angelina “Inday” Simacio (PDPLBN) defeated present Mayor Dodong Amper (LP) 5,338 to 4,717, Batuan VM Antonino Jumawid (LP) beating current Mayor Francisco Pepito (PDPLBN) 4,219 to 2,699 and Mabini VM Juanito Jayoma (LP) prevailing over reigning Mayor Esther Tabigue (PDPLBN) 6,787 to 6,683
The six sitting vice mayors who lost to their incumbent Mayors were San Isidro VM Doxson Asoy (LP) losing to Jacinto Naraga (NPC) 2044 to 3391, Talibon VM Epifaniio Quimson (UNA) beaten by Toting Auxterio (LP) 11,895 to 12,901 and Carmen VM Pedro Budiongan, Jr. (LP) bested by Ricardo Toribio (PDPLBN) 10,031 to 12,165.
In Duero VM Felisilda Ronald (PDPLBN) was routed by Connie Amparo (LP) 3805 to 6,037, Pilar VM Wilson Pajo (LP) narrowly went down against Nita Cubrado (PDPLBN) Â 6452 to 6525 and Sierra Bullones Alfredo Gamalo (LP) thrashed by Simplicio Maestrado, Jr. (PDPLBN) 3845 to 5,868.
Loon VM Elvi Relampagos (LP) was the runaway winner for mayor over two time loser Liezl Go (UNA) 15,691 to 6,630 while Mayor Lloyd Peter Lopez (LP) who is serving his last term as mayor won handily against Independents Danilo Pasilbas 16,029 to 3,577 and former Mayor Wilfredo Caresosa’s 2,356 and will sit as vice mayor for the next three years.
Meanwhile brothers Calape VM Â Nelson Yu is now the mayor and Sulpicio Yu will sit as the Vice Mayor. VM Yu routed Delia Dumalag (UNA) 11,986 to 2,092 and Vicente Yu (IND) 851.
Three Vice Mayors, Tusoy Redulla of Maribojoc, Jonathan Reyes of San Miguel and Elpidio Bonita of Guindulman lost their bids for mayor of their respective towns.
Redulla (NP) lost to Mer Arocha (LP) 4625 to 5,264, Reyes (NPC) was defeated by Manay Mendez (LP) 4,202 to 7399 and Bonita (LP) was beaten by Ben Balo (PDPLBN) 7,933 to 8437 votes.
In Baclayon incumbent Vice Mayor Jodel Cabahug (NP) was beaten by former Mayor Benny Uy (LP) by a 90 vote difference 5,132 to 5,272. (Chito M. Visarra)