New generation of politicos win in Ilocos Norte

LAOAG CITY, May 14 (PIA) — As expected, time-tested political dynasties dominated the Ilocos Norte result of election.
The Commission on Elections has proclaimed re-elected Governor Imee Marcos and her mother Representative Imelda Marcos including the governor’s cousin and running mate re-elected Vice Gov. Angelo Barba, who was sick and failed to join the proclamation.
The Comelec separately proclaimed re-elected Representative Rodolfo Fariñas (1st district), who ran unopposed.
A surprise stunner is the new generation of Fariñases topping local legislative seats.
Newcomer Ria Fariñas, daughter of Congressman Rudy topped the provincial board seat with 85,760 votes as of 10am based on Comelec’s partial, unofficial tally with 80 percent of election returns already canvassed as of May 14.
Jeff Fariñas, a former barangay captain and son of Rudy’s younger brother Eric, topped the Laoag city council seat.
Ria Farinas has not held any public position but she was her father’s chief of staff at the House of Representatives.
The congressman, who ran unopposed, said on radio this morning that the votes for his daughter indicated the peoples’ confidence in him.
“If my daughter did not run, I would not know who my allies are,” he said.
The 2013 race was the opposite of the young generation of Ablans.
Kris Ablan, son of long-time politician Roque Ablan Jr. , lost to outgoing Laoag mayor Michael Farinas in the vice mayoral race in Laoag.
Another Ablan scion, Roque “Rbee”, grandson and namesake of former Congressman Roque, ran for provincial board member in the first district but lost.
Michael’s wife Chevylle won Laoag mayoral race beating Michael’s uncle Roger Farinas, former three-time mayor.
The apparent victory of the Farinas tandem marks the first time that Laoag will be ruled by a woman and a couple.
Another successful couple tandem is in San Nicolas town: elected Mayor Melanie Valdez and outgoing Mayor now elected Vice Mayor Alfredo Valdez Jr.; other couples ran unopposed in the towns of Badoc, Dumalneg and Nueva Era.
It was a different story for couple Sales in Pagudpud town where Matilde and Reynolan both lost in the mayoral and vice mayoral race and couple Salvacion and Fidel Cimatu, Jr. in Bangui town.
Salvacion lost the mayoral race while her husband Fidel emerged winner for vice mayor in Bangui. (MCA/PIA1 Ilocos Norte)