Slim margins for Erap, Guia

MANILA, Philippines – Reelectionist Mayors Joseph Estrada of Manila and Guia Gomez of San Juan won over their rivals by slim margins yesterday.

Estrada, who was proclaimed winner at the Rizal Coliseum, received 283,149 votes against former mayor Alfredo Lim’s 280,464, based on the final official tally released by the city board of canvassers. He led by 2,685 votes.

His running mate, Honey Lacuna, won the vice mayoral race with 268,969 votes.

Gomez won by 1,224 votes against her Vice Mayor Francis Zamora. She received 28,828 votes against 27,604 for Zamora.

Gomez’s running mate, Janella Estrada, won by 9,434 votes against her main rival, Rolando Bernardo.

Janella is a daughter of jailed Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, the Manila mayor’s son by his wife, former senator Luisa Ejercito-Estrada.

Gomez and Estrada have a son, Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito. 

House Minority Leader Rep. Ronaldo Zamora, the vice mayor’s father, won with 31,172 votes against Jana Ejercito’s 22,922 – a difference of 8,250 votes.

In Pasig City, Robert Eusebio won the mayoral race with 282,812 votes against Odylon Ramos’ 13,812 votes.

Eusebio will replace his wife, incumbent Mayor Maribel Eusebio. He served as mayor from 2007 to 2013.

Since 1992, the Eusebios have been in power in Pasig. Vicente served from 1992 to 2001, Soledad from 2001 to 2004, Vicente again from 2004 to 2007.

Reelectionist Vice Mayor Iyo Bernardo received 273,378 votes compared with his rival, stuntman Val Iglesias, who received 12,108 votes.

 Eusebio’s brother, Ricky, won the congressional seat by beating rivals Mons Romulo and Christian Sia.

In Marikina City, Rep. Marcy Teodoro of the National People’s Coalition (NPC) defeated incumbent Mayor Del de Guzman. Teodoro has 86,751 votes as against De Guzman’s 82,300.

In Mandaluyong City, Menchie Abalos of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) garnered 105,495 votes while George Antonio has 22,291 and Florencio Solomon with 2,341 votes.

Abalos will replace her husband, incumbent Mayor Benjamin Abalos Jr., who is on his third and last term.