Former kagawad ends 26-year Gonzales political dynasty in Bonuan Binloc
A Coca-Cola Bottling Company plant supervisor in Calasiao was elected as the new barangay chairperson during the recent Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) finally putting an end to the 26-year-long dynastic reign of the Gonzales family in Barangay Bonuan Binloc.
Wilmer Castañares, 51, a former two-time kagawad and past Sangguniang Kabataan chairman, secured an upset victory by garnering 2,115 votes, defeating incumbent Barangay Chairperson Joshua Gonzales by a margin of over 600 votes.
The Gonzales family had held the reins of power in Bonuan Binloc for two and a half decades, with Pedro Gonzales, the family patriarch (father of Joshua), serving as barangay chairperson for 21 years.
This was not the first time that the younger Gonzales faced defeat in an election. He previously lost in the SK election in 1996 by a mere two votes to Julius Alcaide, a first cousin of Castanares, with Gonzales securing 175 votes against Alcaide’s 177.
Castanares, who campaigned on a platform of transparency and good governance, formerly served as SK chairperson of Bonuan Binloc until 1996. He also held the position of kagawad from 2007 to 2010 and later from 2013 to 2018. Castañares has vowed to combat illegal drugs and address beach squatting issues in Bonuan Binloc, emphasizing close collaboration with the administration of Mayor Belen Fernandez to tackle the barangay’s drainage problems.
The new kagawads in Bonuan Binloc are Alejandro Torio, Rodolfo Clauna Jr., Rodolfo Flores, Joseph Gutierrez, Domingo Palsimon, Rolly Clauna, and Amalia Garcia.
Alcaide emerged victorious as the new SK chairperson, with Raymart Mejia, Mark Perdonio, Jessa Malamud, Kyle Alcaide, Chuck Alcaide, and Harvey de Vera as the winning SK kagawads. (Leonardo Micua)
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
