Political upsets that trapos should learn from

The bitter defeats suffered by moneyed and well-organized candidates last May 9 polls should teach both the traditional and emerging new politicians a big lesson. The debacle suffered by former vice president Jojo Binay, former presidential candidate Gibo Teodoro, former senators Dick Gordon and many other local bets should leave the politicians some very useful lessons.

Why were the powerful Espino brothers defeated in Pangasinan, the well-entrenched Sy-Alvarados in Bulacan, Art Yap and Rene Relampagos of Bohol, the Degamos in Negros Orietal? Even the seemingly invincible Danilo Suarez of Quezon was beaten by a lady doctor, Dr. Helen Tan, by a staggering upset of more than 700,000 votes over only a little more than 300,000 for the incumbent Suarez. Oca Orbos, a former national figure, a cabinet member and vice presidential candidate, could not even win an election for congressman in Pangasinan. Oca Moreno, incumbent city mayor of Cagayan de Oro, a former Ayala executive, lost his gubernatorial bid in Misamis Oriental.

In Cebu, a very well-funded campaign for the Argao mayorship by the incumbent congressman of the second district, Willy Caminero, failed to win over incumbent mayor Alan Sesaldo. I predicted a landslide win by Caminero. But his equivocation and his secretive and unclear stand on whom he supported for president did him much disadvantage and he ended supporting Marcos but losing his bid. His brother Dr. Stanley, who was also defeated by Sesaldo, won as number one board member representing the district. Dr. Stanley was for Leni and he was very open, clear and emphatic on it. The victory of Edsel Galeos over Tata Salvador was expected. And Congressman Willy will find it harder to beat Galeos in 2025.

The defeat of the Sitoys in Cordova is another episode of well-entrenched political families who lost their patriarch, the well-loved, my good friend, the late Adelino Sitoy. The younger Sitoys do not have the magic touch, the warm charisma of the old man. And they were not united. Too many Sitoys running ended with all them losing the mayorship and the congressional seat. The same is true with the Radazas. They have stayed too long in Lapulapu and they did not perform as much as Ahong Chan in such a short time. The Radazas were abandoned by their leaders including many barangay captains and ward leaders. Well, that is how the cookie crumbles.

I have written extensively on the defeat of the Duranos in the fifth district but the last debacle suffered by Ace Durano in the hands of governor Gwen was too devastating. Ace did not win in any town, and clinched a win only in Danao among all the component cities. Ace Durano even lost tremendously in the fifth district while his vice governor, Junjun Davide, who is from the south, did much better than Ace in the north. This is the territory which used to be the Durano empire for more than fifty years.In Carcar, Patrick Barcenas with 43,177 votes, defeated Nice Apura who got only 28,291 for mayor. Efren Quijano with 36,240 votes won over Mercy Apura with 32,733. The Carcar voters are tired of the Apuras who governed Carcar for too long as a conjugal monopoly.

In Malabuyoc, an independent mayoral candidate, Edang Piedad defeated Daya Creus overwhelmingly and an independent vice mayoral bet, Ann Allosada defeated the long time mayor Lito Creus also comfortably. The Creuses were One Cebu official candidates. This only means that when the people are already exasperated with trapos, no one is indispensable, even those aligned with Gov. Gwen and Marcos. Even the Osmeñas, the Duranos are gone. Wala talagang forever.