FOR 5^th DISTRICT REP.

BINALONAN Mayor Ramon “Mon mon” Guico III became a virtual giant slayer when he scored the biggest upset in Pangasinan politics ever by defeating Fifth District Rep. Amado Espino Jr., to deny him a second term of office.

Guico III was proclaimed by the Provincial Board of Canvassers Tuesday afternoon as winner of the congressional race in the Fifth District at the expense of the former three-time governor and father of incumbent Gov. Amado Espino III. 

Now on his last term as mayor of Binalonan town, Guico III garnered 125,136 votes against Espino’s 121,624 votes or an insurmountable margin of 3,412 votes.

Easily the underdog in this political fight, Guico ran under Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, while Espino ran for reelection under the administration PDP-Lakas ng Bayan or Laban.

Espino is the provincial chairman of PDP-Laban in Pangasinan.

Though Espino won by a big margin of 10,978 votes in his hometown of Bautista, and by 4,279 votes in Villasis and led by just few votes in Alcala, Sto Tomas and Sison, these, however, were not enough to plug his big losses in three other towns and one city.

Guico led by 11,866 votes in his hometown Binalonan, 4,330 in Urdaneta City and by 3,000 in Pozorrubio, and was only slightly ahead in Laoac.

“I was not endorsed by the Iglesia Ni Cristo but if only they did, I would have won by about 12,000 to 13,000,” Guico said. “I had no mayors and had very few barangay executives who supported me,” he added.

He said visibility in the district, service and age are important factors that led to his electoral triumph.

Cong. Espino, in a post on social media Tuesday night, conceded his defeat and went on to thank the electorate in the Fifth District, including the Iglesia ni Cristo, for supporting him in his campaign for another term of office. Espino will turn 71 on June 20.

This is his first defeat in politics since he became congressman of the Second District after retiring as a police colonel. He first served for two terms as congressman of the second district, then three terms as provincial governor and one term as congressman of the Fifth District.

He said “the people of the district have already spoken” and it is just right that he should accept the verdict, and treat this as a lesson learned that could be applied in other future undertakings.

Meanwhile, Espino’s son and namesake, Gov. Amado Espino III, was re-elected for his second term and defeated Alaminos City Mayor Arthur Celeste.

The elder Espino’s other son, Bugallon Mayor Jumel Anthony Espino, also won as representative of Second District besting Board Member Raul Sison.

Espino’s wife, Priscilla Espino was also elected as Bugallon mayor.

After his proclamation, Guico said it was a grueling and a tough campaign.

The son of his namesake former Binalonan Mayor Ramon Guico Jr., said he waged his campaign by stressing only on the positive side, unmindful of the black propaganda thrown against him.

Guico’s father, Ramon Guico Jr, also won as mayor of Binalonan. He held that position for many years and was also former president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, an association of mayors in the country.

He said he always impressed upon the people the beauty and potentials of the district which is boosted by its long national highway that connects to other provinces.

The new congressman said he will seek more investments  that will create jobs and propel the local economy. (Leonardo Micua/Philstar Wire Service)  

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