The Philippine Online Chronicles

For several young and seasoned politicians, winning and losing at politics is a family affair. While some national candidates that came from or married into prominent political clans have lucked out in the May 10 polls, the same cannot be said for their relatives who ran for local positions in their "strongholds."

Former president Joseph Estrada trails Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, another member of two prominent political clans, in the race for president. Guia Gomez, mother of Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito,  won as mayor of San Juan by a landslide victory of 42,119 votes or almost 75 percent of the total votes. JV won the congressional seat unopposed while another son, Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, placed second in his senatorial reelection bid, according to the last partial, unofficial tally of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV).

Another presidential aspirant, Senator Manuel "Manny" Villar, conceded to Aquino Tuesday, the same day his son Mark Villar won the the seat for the lone district in Las Piñas. The Comelec said the Villar son won majority in 84 percent of clustered precincts, accounting for more than 120,000 votes. The younger Villar will replace his mother, three-term congresswoman Cynthia. Las Piñas Mayor Vergel Aguilar, Cynthia's brother, was also reelected.

In Marikina vice presidential candidate Bayani Fernando and his wife, incumbent mayor Marides, are about to lose control over the city with their allies trailing behind political rivals in the race. The couple has held power since Bayani ran for mayor in 1992 and his wife served three terms as mayor of the city since 2001. Marides chose not to run in this election and Fernando ran under the Bagumbayan party of Richard Gordon.

Gordon, for his part, has conceded the presidential race while incumbent vice-governor Ann Gordon lost the race to become the representative of the first district of Zambales and Mayor James Gordon was reelected in Olongapo City. Gordon’s nephew John Carlos “JC” de los Reyes of Ang Kapatiran Party is at the bottom of election return tallies for the presidential race.

Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., son of a former president, has placed seventh in the last PPCRV tally of senatorial candidates. His sister Imee and mother Imelda were proclaimed as the governor of Ilocos Norte and representative of the province’s second district, respectively.

Makati Councilor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr. won his bid to beome the city’s mayor late Monday, and his father, former Makati mayor Jejomar Binay, is currently in the lead to become the next vice-president.

In Quezon City, incumbent mayor Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr. won the post of representative for the city’s 4th District while his daughter is the newly-elected vice-mayor and political ally Herbert Bautista is the new mayor.  The senior Belmonte plans to make his bid to become the next speaker of the house.

Based on the votes transmitted from 34 municipalities in Maguindanao transmitted by the Precinct Count optical Scan (PCOS) Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu is leading in the gubernatorial race by 113,441 votes. Rival Datu Umbra Sinsuat, an ally of powerful political clan the Ampatuans was a far second with 67,900 votes. Mangudadatu is the husband of one of the 57 people who were victims of the Maguindanao massacre which the Ampatuan clan is allegedly behind. Andal Ampatuan Sr. is also trailing Mangudadatu’s running mate Ismael Mastura.

In Cavite Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla Jr., son of Gov. Johnny Remulla and brother of 7th district Rep. Jesus Crispin Remulla, has been proclaimed the new provincial governor.

For the Osmeña clan of Cebu wins and losses also go hand in hand. Outgoing Mayor Tomas Osmeña has won the congressional seat for Cebu’s South District, while his sister Georgia lost her bid for mayor and other clan members Margarita and Richard made it into the top nine councilors for the south district. Serge Osmeña placed 10th in the last PPCRV tally and garnered the top slot for senator in Cebu.