Mayor Efren “Gungun” Gica (left most) and his brother, newly elected vice mayor Erwin “Wado” Gica (sixth from the left), together with winning councilors in Dumanjug town, southwestern Cebu. CDNDigital photo | Mich Padayhag
Cebu City, Philippines—Brothers Efren “Gungun” Gica and Erwin “Wado” Gica obtained the top positions in the town of Dumanjug, southwestern Cebu, in the 2019 midterm polls.
Election officer Mariela B. Remoroza officially proclaimed Efren and Erwin as mayor and vice mayor, respectively, at 10:16 a.m. on Tuesday, May 14, 2019, at the town’s Legislative Building.
Efren, who ran under Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), garnered 17,608 votes, while his challenger Cesar Baricuatro of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan, got 11,354 votes.
In an interview with Cebu Daily News Digital, Efren said he had mixed emotions after the results were released.
“I am happy but at the same time a little frustrated,” he said.
He is saddened that Susing Dupal-ag, whom he considered as a father, was the only councilor from his slate who failed to win.
Winning councilors from his slate in were Evelinda Quirante, Rodrigo Pan, Rainero Asentista, Miguela Yu Chong, Jovenal Rabin, Stanley Aldemita, and Isaac Cambalon while Francis Arthur Famor was the lone winning councilor from the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan.
“Disappointing on my part but we are here to support the people and uplift the lives of people here in Dumanjug. We will do what we are supposed to do and deliver what we promised to people,” he said.
This is the second time that Efren won for the mayoral race. In 2016, he defeated Nelson Garcia.
To recall, Efren is facing a 90-day suspension as ordered by Sandiganbayan’s Fourth Division due to graft, falsification, and malversation charges.
“There is a preventive suspension but wala nato gi (we did not) recognize because there is a pending appeal,” he said.
After winning the mayoral race, Efren wants to prioritize projects like roads, water, and tourism in the town.
For the vice mayor post, Erwin obtained 15,862 votes. His opponent Tatang Noli Famor from One Cebu only got 11,904 votes.
This is the first that Erwin ran for the vice mayor post. He is also an incumbent town councilor and a former barangay captain in barangay Sima.
CDN Digital sought Erwin for a comment but he declined to give a statement.
“Just interview the mayor,” he said. /bmjo
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