Ortegas continue to hold sway in La Union

By Erwin Beleo SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – The Ortega clan will continue to hold power in La Union as shown in the results of the May 13, 2019 elections. La Union 1st District Representative Pablo Ortega bagged his second term after no one contested his reelection bid. Pablo’s wife Monette won as councilor in San Juan town, while his son Paolo won as provincial board member also in the 1st District and his daughter Luzan Ortega-Valero won as councilor in this city. Pablo’s nephew, incumbent Governor Francisco Emanuel Ortega III, was also reelected for his second term along with his uncle vice gubernatorial bet Mario Ortega, Pablo’s younger brother. The governor’s wife Vini Nola Ortega was also reelected as nominee of the Abono partylist, while his younger brother Mannix Ortega won as vice mayor in San Juan town. The governor’s other younger brother Alfred Ortega was reelected unopposed as vice mayor of this city. Ramon Ortega, also a brother of Pablo, was reelected city councilor along with Ed Regala, husband of Rica Ortega-Regala, daughter of ex-Congressman Victor Ortega. Meanwhile, former board member Pepe Ortega, also a younger brother of Pablo, lost in his mayoral bid in this city and was defeated by incumbent Mayor Dong Gualberto. Also losing in their mayoral bids were board member Francisco Ortega (older brother of Pablo) who was defeated by Rachel Pinzon in Luna, La Union, and Michelle Ortega-Pimentel, daughter of the late Roberto”Bungo” Ortega, was defeated by incumbent Mayor Philip Crispino of Caba, La Union.