Edno Joson lands 12th in own turf

CABANATUAN CITY - Former National Food Authority (NFA) administrator and former Nueva Ecija governor Eduardo Nonato "Edno" Joson landed only 12th in the senatorial race in the province.

Joson, younger brother of re-elected Gov. Tomas Joson III, garnered 275,333 votes to make it to the so-called "Magic 12" in the final tally of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Joson ran for senator under the Alyansa ng Pag-asa of former Education Secretary Raul Roco, although the governor supported President Arroyo. Another Joson, Vice Gov. Eduardo IV, was provincial coordinator of opposition presidential bet Fernando Poe Jr.

Although he is with Roco’s party, Edno still bagged the endorsement of Tomas III.

To his credit, Edno made it to the "Magic 12" by edging out such prominent names as re-electionist Senators Rodolfo Biazon, John Osmeña, Robert Jaworski and Robert Barbers.

Former San Juan Mayor Jinggoy Estrada, son of deposed former President Joseph Estrada, topped the senatorial race in the province with 467,871 votes, followed by former Sen. Juan Ponce- Enrile with 418,078 votes.

Others in the Magic 12 were Jamby Madrigal (416,640), Mar Roxas (400,606), Manuel Lapid (342,493), Alfredo Lim (341,156), Bong Revilla (340,498), Ernesto Maceda (328,630), Richard Gordon (318,497), Miriam Defensor-Santiago (296,255) and Aquilino Pimentel Jr. (288,181).

Local political observers felt Edno’s candidacy in Nueva Ecija was severely affected by the Alyansa ng Pag-asa’s lack of political machinery as evidenced by its poor showing in the province.

Roco ended up last in the presidential race in the province with only 20,710 votes against Poe’s 476,220, President Arroyo’s 160,438, Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s 90,436 and Eddie Villanueva’s 34,696.

Roco’s running mate, former Tarlac vice governor Herminio Aquino, only obtained 12,497 votes versus Sen. Loren Legarda’s 538,094 and Sen. Noli de Castro’s 202,858.

Edno served as NFA administrator during the Estrada administration but resigned a few months before the EDSA 2 uprising.

He is known to be the most independent-minded among the Josons, legislating an anti-dynasty bill in Congress at a time when five Josons were holding office.

Of the five Josons who sought public office, he was the only one who failed to make it. Those who emerged victorious were Tomas III who was re-elected to a third and last term as governor, outgoing Quezon Mayor Mariano Cristino (vice governor), his nephews Edward Thomas and Dale (board member and mayor, respectively) and his sister-in-law, first district Rep. Josie Manuel-Joson.