Tandang Sora descendant buckles odds, hurdles foes in QC polls

A neophyte councilor who ran against the well-entrenched political machinery of a political clan has been proclaimed duly elected congresswoman for the second district of Quezon City.

Mary Ann Susano, a direct descendant of Melchora "Tandang Sora" Aquino — the mother of Philippine Revolution, was proclaimed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as the winner last Tuesday night.

Susano, who ran under the Lakas-CMD party led by the newly re-elected Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr., defeated re-electionist Rep. Ismael "Chuck" Mathay III and former congressman Dante Liban.

Susano received a total of 138,888 votes. The second district has the biggest number of voters in Quezon City.

Her victory was hard-earned because she was not able to get the endorsement of the Iglesia ni Cristo and the support of least 10 barangay captains in vote rich barangays.

Observers noted the odds were against Susano.

"However, the vote of the opposition was divided," one observer said.

Apart from Susano, the entire city council slate of the party also won in the election. Among those proclaimed were Winston Castelo, Aiko Melendez, Ramon Medalla, Godofredo Liban III, Eric Medina and Allan Francisco.

In District 1, Vincent "Bingbong" Crisologo of the opposition Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP) was declared the winning congressman while Lakas councilors Bernadette Herrera Dy, Elizabeth Delarmente, Victor Ferrer Jr., Francisco Calalay (KNP), Rommel Abesamis and Joseph Juico were also proclaimed.

In the fourth district, re-electionist Nanette Castello Daza won with 80,399 votes while councilors Edcel Lagman, Antonio Inton, Alma Montilla, Bayani Hipol and Restituto Malangin also won. Opposition councilor Janet Malaya was the lone candidate to make it the Magic 6.

In District 3, the Comelec had proclaimed lawyer Matias Defensor as the duly elected congressman while four Lakas-CMD councilors – Jorge Banal Jr., Dante de Guzman, Diorela Sotto and Wencelito Lagumbay also won. Two opposition councilors — Franz Pumaren and Julian Coseteng — were also proclaimed.