Against daunting odds, Quezon City 5th district Rep. Patrick Michael “PM” Vargas has defeated rival Rose Nono Lin in the mid-term polls to secure his second term in the House of Representatives.
Vargas, who was proclaimed winner by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), garnered 102,648 votes, while Lin received 91,622 votes. Other candidates included De Guzman Ate Rose (6,020 votes), Fidela Mallari (3,040 votes) and Angel Rustia Jr. (1,814 votes).
“Hindi umubra ang fake news campaign. Sa huli, ang katotohanan at serbisyo ang nanaig (The fake news campaign didn’t work. In the end, truth and service prevailed),” Vargas said in a statement Wednesday, May 14, two days after the elections.
He attributed his victory to the strong support from the residents of Novaliches and the Vargas family’s 15-year legacy of public service in the district.
His brother, former congressman Alfred Vargas, also achieved success in the same election, securing a seat again as councilor in the 5th district.
Vargas had been wary of the smear campaign tactics employed by his opponents, particularly the spread of fake news, but it ultimately failed to sway voters.
Nono Lin, who ran as an independent candidate, faced challenges during her campaign due to her alleged involvement in controversies related to the Pharmally scandal and connections to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
She was also reportedly backed by an influential Christian denomination during the polls.
Vargas expressed gratitude to his supporters, particularly the volunteers and the residents of Novaliches, for their unwavering support throughout the campaign.
“Nagpapasalamat kami sa lahat ng sumuporta at sa aming malaking pamilya sa Novaliches. Walang iwanan hanggang sa huli (We thank everyone who supported us and to our big family in Novaliches. No one gets left behind until the very end),” he said.
“Ang panalong ito ay tagumpay ng bawat Batang Novaliches na nangangarap ng mas maunlad na kinabukasan (This victory is the triumph of every child of Novaliches who dreams of a brighter future),” Vargas added.