CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Twists and turns in the political landscape of Pampanga marked the last day for filing certificates of candidacy at the Commission on Elections extension office housed at the Benigno Aquino Hall, Capitol Compound here.
Former Gov. Eddie “Among Ed” Panlilio turned up with 2022 gubernatorial also-ran Danilo Baylon and a handful of religious pastors to file his COC for vice governor. Baylon had earlier filed his own COC for a second try for the governorship.
The duo had barely gone out of the hall when the incumbent Capitol residents entered amid a throng of incumbent mayors and their rivals complete with their council slates, a coterie of staff and ward leaders.
Incumbent Gov. Dennis “Delta” Pineda filed his COC for the position of vice governor. Incumbent Vice Gov. Lilia “Nanay” Pineda filed her COC for governor.
The young Pineda was running mate to “Nanay Gov” for two terms – 2013-2019, switching posts thereafter, elected in 2019 and reelected in 2022.
The impending 2025 battle for Pampanga’s top two elective positions will be in effect a rematch in reverse.
In 2007 gubernatorial elections, then-suspended priest Among Ed was proclaimed winner against then-board member Lilia Pineda and incumbent Gov. Mark Lapid. An ensuing election protest declared Pineda the winner but she did not serve what little remained of Panlilio’s exhausted term.
In their 2010 rematch, Pineda won against Panlilio by an overwhelming majority of votes.
Nanay Gov’s victory against Panlilio in their third and last gubernatorial face-off in 2013 was nothing short of a political annihilation, that in 2016 she ran unopposed.
In 2022, Delta Pineda was reelected to the governorship by a clear majority of votes against then-former Candaba Mayor Danilo Baylon who ran on the wings of religious fervor with the moniker “Anak ng Ama,” which not a few took as a spin off Pastor Apollo Quiboloy’s self-proclamation as “appointed son of God.”
Losers
A string of electoral losses is seen as the unifying factor in the Baylon-Panlilio tandem.
Panlilio losing in two matches against the Pineda matriarch by the proverbial landslide. Three, if the electoral protest is included.
Baylon first and only term as Candaba mayor in 2016-2019 put to finish by Rene Maglanque who is up for reelection to his third and final term, besting Baylon’s wife Aniway in 2022.
Aniway had also filed her COC for a rematch with Maglanque in 2025.
Rivals unite for Nanay-Delta
The brewing bitterness of local election contests cooled down, if a bit, as rivals in mayoralty contests came in droves to show support to the Pineda tandem. In attendance were:
Sto. Tomas erstwhile team of incumbent Mayor Jonny A. Sambo and incumbent Vice Mayor Matias “Bong” Pineda. San Simon’s Mayor Abundio Punsalan Jr. and Vice Mayor Romanoel Santos with their respective slate. Porac’s incumbent Mayor Jaime Capil and former board member Mike Tapang.
Among the other local officials and candidates who came were:
Arayat incumbent Mayor Madir Alejandrino. Bacolor’s incumbent Mayor Diman Datu and Vice Mayor Ron Dungca. Sta. Rita Mayor Art Salalila. Sasmuan Mayor Lina Cabrera. Candaba Mayor Rene Maglanque. Lubao Mayor Esmie Pineda. Guagua Mayor Ton Ton Torres. Magalang Mayor Malu Lacson. Minalin Mayor Philip Naguit. Floridablanca Mayor Darwin Manalansan. San Luis Mayor Jay Sagum. Macabebe mayoralty aspirant Vice Mayor Vince Flores. Masantol mayoralty aspirant Vice Mayor Dan Guintu. Sta. Ana mayoralty aspirant former board member Dinan Labung. Mabalacat City mayoralty aspirant Vice Mayor Geld Aquino. Mexico mayoralty aspirant Alex Tumang with his whole slate.
Reelecting Pampanga 4th District Rep. Anna York Bondoc also came to the event with her brother, former Congressman Rimpy Bondoc.
Also present was Angeles City Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr. who had filed his COC for the first congressional district.
