IN a stunning upset, the slate of underdog former Misamis Oriental second district Rep. Juliette Uy was able to wipe out the one-term rule of Gov. Peter Unabia whose family at one time was considered politically invincible, dragging with him his two sons in defeat.
Running on a platform of “bangon” (“rise”) Misor, Uy was not yet considered a serious threat from the start – fresh from her 2022 loss by Unabia during their first governorship clash.
But as the campaign dragged on, even Unabia himself admitted in December in jest, “Mosukol gyud diay. Abi nako dagan-dagan ra ning iya.”
National politics also played a dynamic locally.
When it was revealed that first district reelectionist Rep. Christian Unabia was among those who impeached Vice President Sara Duterte, Misamisnons were outraged.
It was the people themselves who took to social media and campaigned against the reelection of all those who impeached Duterte – the younger Unabia included.
And then Duterte’s father Rodrigo, the ex-President, was arrested.
That was the last straw.
Despite being members of the National Unity Party who are allied with the national administration, Uy and first district congressional challenger lawyer Karen Lagbas publicly backed the Vice President in calling out the government to bring him back.
That bodes well for the Misamisnons who are already die-hard Duterte supporters from the start – alienating the Unabias further.
There were other concerning issues too.
Uy and her slate were highly critical of the provincial government’s joint venture engagements with A Brown Company, Inc. and Premier 101 Healthcare Management Inc.
They also questioned the sudden presence of Meralco at a Moresco II event.
For her part, Lagbas criticized the lack of medicines and equipment at the province-operated seven hospitals, discrimination in the distribution of ayuda, lack of assistance for college scholars, political harassment of her relatives such as the attempted suspension of her brother mayor and many more.
And then the campaign blunders came.
Comelec called out Unabia to explain what it described as discriminatory remarks against women and Muslims in two separate occasions.
Perhaps there were more contributing factors and all of these led to Uy’s landslide victory of 327,305 votes over Unabia’s 235,023 or a separation of a whooping 92,282 votes.
Unabia’s son Christian – the reelectionist congressman – also tumbled down with a mere 112,758 votes versus Lagbas’ 140,549.
Veteran Balingasag reelectionist Mayor Alexis Quina managed to hold his turf against fresh-faced newcomer Joshua Unabia, the governor’s youngest.
As of presstime, Comelec already counted 98.53 percent of the returns with Quina producing 25,848 votes over Unabia’s 18,912.
It was a shocking sweep even for Uy supporters.
“Pagdagan gyud namo, ang amo lang gi-expect nga may na lang naay makadaog nga isa kay lisod lagi kaayo. Incumbent baya sila. Challenger ra baya mi. Pero gihatagan na g’yud mi og kahigayonan sa panahon,” Uy’s lawyer Angel Lim said.
In her first interview as governor-elect, Uy said she will look into what needs to be prioritized, what the constituents need most and then will act on them first.
For her part, Lagbas said she will first focus on improvements of the universal health care that could benefit the first district.
