Landslide poll win for widow

MANILA, Philippines - The widow of a slain barangay chairman in Malabon won by a landslide in last Monday’s elections after filing her candidacy an hour after voting began.

The entire slate of Cristina Bernardo in Barangay Concepcion, including the Sanguniang Kabataan candidate were proclaimed Monday night by the Barangay Election Board of Canvassers.

The winning members of the Bernardo ticket are Jacinto Villanueva, Ariel Liguan, Amante Martinez, Gilbert Gonzalez, Cristina Pangilinan, Florelou Florentino and Char Paulino.

The winning SK candidate was Enrique Siochi Jr.

Bernardo won over her three rivals: Michael Santiago, Romancito Santos and Rolando Vivero.

Bernardo filed her last-minute candidacy before the Commission on Elections in Malabon to fill in for her husband, Maximo, a former barangay chairman, after she got a “message from the grave” to continue his political fight.

Maximo, who was seeking re-election, was killed by masked gunmen as he emerged from church last Oct. 17.

He was declared dead on arrival at the hospital.