ILOILO CITY – Brothers JC Rahman Nava and Felipe ‘Nene’ Nava have been elected governor and provincial board member, respectively, ending their almost decade-long rift to become united again in the service of the small island province of Guimaras.
Based on the data of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), JC Rahman won overwhelmingly with 92,570 votes in the five towns of the province.
Felipe won a seat in the Guimaras Provincial Board. His 49,004 votes earned him the top spot in the province’s 2nd District.
As former provincial governors and doctors by profession, the brothers ran under one political alliance.
The political rift of the Nava brothers started prior to the 2013 elections when then incumbent governor Felipe lost his reelection bid to now Governor Samuel Gumarin, who was supported by then congressman JC Rahman.
Felipe again lost to Gumarin as provincial governor in the 2016 elections. For the May 2019 elections, Felipe ran as mayor of the capital of Jordan town and lost to an ally of his brother JC Rahman.
Aside from the brothers, JC Rahman’s wife Lucille Nava was also reelected as congressional representative of Guimaras Lone District with 93,994 votes.
Vice Governor John Edward Gando was also reelected with 57,746 votes.
Elected to the Guimaras Provincial Board were Cecile Gumarin, Aurelio Tionado, Perfecto ‘Boking’ Habaña Jr. and Raymond Gavileño for the 1st District and Alejandro ‘Doc Alex’ Araneta, Luben Vilces, and Marilyn ‘Lynlyn’ Edang for the 2nd District.
In Buenavista town, incumbent governor Gumarin was elected mayor while Cyril Beltran is the new vice mayor.
In the capital town of Jordan, Cresente Chavez Jr. is set to return as mayor and Ruben Corpuz will be the next vice mayor.
In Nueva Valencia town, Atty. Paul De la Cruz was elected mayor and Ma. Luz Gambalan vice mayor.
In San Lorenzo town, Ninfa Gajo was elected mayor while Constantino ‘Jun’ Cordero Jr. was reelected vice mayor.
In Sibunag town, Annabelle Vilches was elected mayor and Reynaldo Segovia as vice mayor.