2 housewives to takeover as mayors

Two housewives appeared likely to replace their third-termer mayor husbands in eastern Metero Manila. Unofficial partial election returns showed Maria Lourdes Fernando and Idad Eusebio pulling away from their close rivals in Marikina City and Pasig City, respectively.

Fernando of the Kabayani Movement garnered 21,562 votes compared to Rep. Romeo Candazo, of the People Power Coaliton (PPC) with only 12,655 votes.

Eusebio of Lakas-NUCD has 55,375 votes as against her closest rival Mario Raymundo of Aksiyon Demokratiko showing only 9,163 votes.

Maria Lourdes is the wife of incumbent Marikina City Mayor Bayani Fernando while Idad is the wife of Pasig City incumbent Mayor Vicente Eusebio. Both mayors Fernando and Eusebio are serving their third and last terms.

As of 5 p.m. yesterday, Fernando’s running mate Marion Andres, has 17,601 votes while his opponent, Joseph Banzon of the Lakas-NUCD, registered 6,703 votes. In the city’s lone congressional seat, incumbent Vice Mayor Del de Guzman, of Kabayani has 14,573 votes as against Virgilio Farcon of PCC with 7,713 votes.

In Pasig City, Eusebio’s running mate, Lorna Bernardo has 40,272 votes, while her rival Renato Lipana, Independent, is not far behind with 25,678 votes.

In Mandaluyong City, the triumvirate of incumbents Rep. Neptali "Boyet" Gonzales Jr., Mayor Benhur Abalos Jr. and Vice Mayor Jessie Cruz will likely serve the city for another three-year term. As of 1:30 p.m., unofficial results of NAMFREL tabulation showed Gonzales registered 10,474 votes while his rival Angie Doming-Buan, 4,438 votes.

Abalos garnered, 13, 749 while former Vice Mayor Ernesto "Bibot" Domingo had 8,072 votes. Abalos’ running mate Jessie Cruz, is slightly ahead of his rival actor Phillip Salvador. Cruz has 12,253 votes with Salvador not far behind with 9,221 votes. – Non Alquitran