Military rebels slaughtered, some stars lose shine in polls

FORMER police and military officers and soldiers accused of rebellion suffered stinging defeats in Monday’s elections, even as showbiz personalities saw their stars either dim or glow brighter following a defeat or victory at the polls.

Former Scout Ranger Regiment chief and Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and Marine Col. Ariel Querubin, two ex-soldiers accused of rebellion, on Tuesday conceded defeat in the senatorial race on the second day of the counting of the ballots.

Lim, detained at the police headquarters in Camp Crame, was the first to concede as he placed 17th in the counting with 6 million votes. Only the first 12 senatorial candidates will be proclaimed.

Querubin, detained in Camp Aguinaldo, conceded shortly after placing 19th in the race.

In Taguig City, discharged Lt. Senior Grade James Layug, another ex-soldier identified with the mutinous Magdalo faction, placed fourth in the race for the lone district.

In Sipalay City, Negros Occidental, discharged Marine Capt. and Magdalo member Gary Alejano lost to Noynoy Montilla, son of incumbent Mayor Soledad Montilla, in the mayoralty race.

Former Police Supt. Cezar Mancao II, a suspect in the murder of publicist Salvador Dacer and his driver in 2001, trailed his opponent for representative of Compostela Valley’s First District.

Jovito Palparan, a retired general, failed in his bid for the Senate.

In Quezon City, the showbiz personalities whose stars shone brighter on Tuesday numbered five, while those who saw their political fortunes fade totaled seven.

Quezon City Vice Mayor and former actor Herbert Bautista was proclaimed winner in the mayoralty race Tuesday over his closest rival Michael Defensor.

The other winners were actor-comedian and TV host Roderick Paulate, actor Alfred Vargas, and former child star and newscaster Mari Grace Hipolito, who ran for councilor in Quezon City’s Second District.

Giancarlo Sotto, son of former Senator Vicente Sotto III, and himself a TV personality, won as a councilor in Quezon City’s Third District.

Other showbiz personalities were not as lucky.

Actress and outgoing Councilor Aiko Melendrez lost in the vice mayoral race to Joy Belmonte-Alimurong, daughter of incumbent Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr.

Comedian-broadcaster Arnell Ignacio lost his bid as a councilor in Quezon City’s First District.

Actresses Ara Mina and Glenda Garcia failed in their bid to sit as councilors in Quezon City’s Second District.

Former beauty Queen and actress Maria Isabel Lopez likewise failed to make it to the City Council in the Fourth District.

There were other winners and losers elsewhere.

In Batangas province, Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto had won in 24 towns and one city by 10:50 a.m. Tuesday, leading her opponent, Santo Tomas Mayor Edna Sanchez, by 120,494 votes.

In Pasig City, former basketball player Yoyong Martirez was leading the three-way fight for vice mayor.

In Bohol, actor Cesar Montano placed third in the gubernatorial race. In Leyte, Lucy Torres, who substituted for her husband, actor Richard Gomez, who was disqualified for lacking residency, was leading the three-way fight for the Fourth District.

In Laguna, actor ER Ejercito, nephew of deposed President Joseph Estrada, was leading in the six-way fight for governor. –Florante S. Solmerin with Joel E. Zurbano, Manila Standard Today