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The Delfinado and Montilla families each has three members who lost in local races during the May 12 polls, weakening their grip on power in two Negros Occidental districts
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – Voters in Negros Occidental delivered on a blow to two political families during the midterm elections on Monday, May 12.
The Delfinados and Montillas – dominant in the 4th and 5th districts, respectively – each has three family members who lost in local races during the May 12 polls, weakening their grip on power in southern and central Negros Occidental.
In the 4th District, Leo Delfinado, an ex-mayor, lost to incumbent San Enrique Mayor Tuvillara. Delfinado received 7,966 votes, behind Tuvillara’s 9,095, showed final tally from the Commission on Elections-Negros Occidental Provincial Office.
Delfinado’s wife, Lea, was also defeated by Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer in the congressional race, while their son, Leo Carlo, failed to secure a seat on the provincial board.
Ferrer received 130,023 votes against Lea’s 72,503.
The prominent Montilla family also suffered defeats on multiple fronts. Outgoing Isabela Mayor Irene Montilla, a scion of the Consunji family, lost her bid for vice mayor to Renato Malabor Jr., whom she defeated in the 2022 mayoral race.
Montilla garnered 13,821 votes, behind Malabor’s 21,288.
Her son, Isabela Vice Mayor Juan Miguel Montilla, lost in the mayoral race to Miguel Angelo Yulo, son of 5th District Representative Dino Yulo. Juan Miguel lost with his 12,069 votes, while Yulo won with his 24,164 votes.
Another Montilla son, Enrique III, failed to win a seat on the Isabela municipal council.
Elsewhere in Negros Occidental, history was made. Talisay City elected its first woman mayor, Rowena “Weng” Lopez-Lizares, a lawyer and wife of Mayor Neil Lizares. She beat construction magnate Samuel Siote, ahead with her 31,706 votes against Siote’s 26,907.
In Kabankalan City, reelectionist Mayor Benjie Miranda, an indigenous leader, defeated six challengers which included former governor and mayor Isidro “Pidio” Zayco and ex-congressman and vice governor Genaro “Lim-ao” Alvarez.
Miranda won with his 42,657 votes against Zayco’s 23, 518 and Alvarez’s 22,583. The others mayoral bets were John Cordero, Doc Ocquias, Eliezer Duron, and Gigi Mungaray.
Miranda’s wife, Divina, a public school teacher who resigned from the Department of Education to be his running mate, also defeated Vice Mayor Miguel “Migz” Zayco, another Zayco family member.
She won with 31,146 votes against Miguel’s 28,969.
The couple’s victory further cements their growing influence in Kabankalan, a component city in Negros Occidental with the largest national tax share.
Miranda made history in 2022 as the first indigenous person to become mayor of Kabankalan.
In EB Magalona, 22-year-old Matthew Louis Malacon became the youngest elected mayor in Negros Occidental’s history. He succeeded his father, term-limited Mayor Marvin Malacon, who successfully ran for vice mayor. – Rappler.com
