How mainstream media reported Velasco victories in Marinduque

In a phone interview on Tuesday, Lord Allan Jay said his legislative work would focus on health, agriculture and tourism programs. 

Philippine Daily INQUIRER:

Velascos dominate Marinduque; Reyeses’ era for island province ends

Reporter's Notebook: Election updates

Lord Allan Jay Velasco (center) —COMELEC Marinduque

BOAC, MARINDUQUE, Philippines — Marinduque sees the beginning of a new era as members of the Velasco family will replace the Reyes family in leading the island province in Southern Tagalog.

Former Supreme Court Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr. was elected governor, while his son, Lord Allan Jay, will serve another term as the province’s lone district representative to Congress.

It was a landslide victory for father and son, who both ran under the administration’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan.

The former justice led by 32,179 votes against closest rival and independent candidate Rey Salvacion.

Lord Allan Jay garnered 95,067 votes against Harold Lim of the United Nationalist Alliance who got 5,488 votes.

A third candidate for governor was Violet Reyes, a daughter of the late governor and Reyes clan matriarch Carmencita “Nanay” Reyes.

She received 5,488 votes. Carmencita, who led Marinduque (2015 population: 234,521) for 31 years by switching positions as governor or representative, withdrew her candidacy for representative in November last year.

Reyes, 87, died in January this year due to ruptured abdominal aneurysm.

In a phone interview on Tuesday, Lord Allan Jay said his legislative work would focus on health, agriculture and tourism programs. —Report from Maricar Cinco, Mayda Lagran and Jofel Lancion

ABS-CBN News:

Retired associate justice Presbitero Velasco won the gubernatorial race in Marinduque.

Velasco got 66,526 votes, while Rey Salvacion received 34,347 votes, based on the complete election returns of clustered precincts, as of 9:22 p.m. Tuesday.

  

Velasco retired from the Supreme Court last year, after serving for almost 12 years. He was succeeded by Jose Reyes Jr.

His son, Lord Allan Jay Velasco, won the congressional race by a mile.

Election 2019: A resounding triple victory for Velascos in Marinduque

Justice Presby Velasco, Jr., governor-elect of Marinduque.
Will the coming years be a period of magnificent transformation for the province?

BOAC, Marinduque - It’s a resounding triple victory for the Velascos in Marinduque.

Incumbent congressman Lord Allan Velasco (PDP-Laban) won almost uncontested the race for representative of this island-province’s lone district.

This was so because Marinduque's longest serving political matriarch, Carmencita Ongsiako-Reyes who was with the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), and was running against Velasco in this midterm election suddenly withdrew her candidacy. She was substituted by Harold Lim (UNA), an almost unknown entity. Carmencita did not finish her term as she passed away in January this year.

In almost the same manner, Carmencita’s daughter Ma. Violeta Reyes (UNA), ran against former Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco, Jr. (PDP-Laban), in the gubernatorial race. Four days prior to election the Reyes family issued a statement via social media announcing the withdrawal of ‘Dok Violet Reyes’ candidacy. She reportedly made a formal withdrawal before Comelec. 

A former provincial board member, Reynaldo Salvacion (IND.), remained as the senior Velasco's only official opponent.

Justice Presby on the campaign trail.

Newly elected governor, ‘Justice’ Velasco won in all of Marinduque's six towns. He was appointed associate justice in 2006 until the mandatory age of retirement in August of last year. 

He was engaged in private law practice for 20 years and became president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), among other government positions until he became a regular member of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) in 1993. This is his first elected position. 

'Justice Presby' is married to Lorna Quinto-Velasco (PDP-Laban), the beauteous incumbent mayor of Torrijos municipality. Lorna ran unopposed as mayor in yesterday's election.

Taken during Justice Presby's retirement last year. From left, son-in-law Sherwin Catera, Party list representative Trish Nicole Velasco-Catera, Justice Velasco, his wife, Mayor Lorna Quinto-Velasco, son Mike, municipal admin and Cong. Lord Allan Velasco.

Lorded it over local politics

It was the Reyeses who lorded it over Marinduque's local politics for nearly 5 decades. Carmencita was first elected as a delegate to the 1971 Constitutional Convention ratified during the Marcos regime to which she was a close ally. She was assemblywoman of Marinduque from 1985 to 1986, congresswoman from 1978 to 1998 and 2007 to 2010, and governor from 1998 to 2007 and 2010 until her death.

Luisito Reyes, her brother-in-law was governor from 1988 to 1995. Her son Edmund Reyes, Jr. was congressman from 1998 to 2007.

In the case of Regina Ongsiako-Reyes (LP), she was the opponent of Lord Allan in the 2013 congressional race. House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte (LP) did not implement a High Court decision issued in 2013 to have him installed as congressman. Comelec had already cancelled Regina’s COC then in view of her US citizenship by the time she took her oath as congresswoman.

HRET eventually ruled that Comelec’s decisions in two resolutions in 2013, upheld by the High Court were final and executory. It also ruled that “Reyes had no valid COC nor a valid proclamation”. Lord Allan was installed as congressman only in February 2016.

Cong. Lord Allan Velasco

Younger Velasco as Speaker?

The very popular younger Velasco who garnered about 95% of the votes will most probably aspire to be Speaker in the next Congress as media reports keep saying that he has the backing of President Duterte and his influential daughter, Davao CIty Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. Lord Allan is married to Wen Velasco, a staunch Duterte ally.

Sara, who graced Lord Allan's birthday party in Marinduque last November had said before a huge audience that it would be a "great pride for the people of Marinduque to have for the first time in your history a Speaker of the House".

The local electorate after a hard day's night are forward-looking now to a period of positive changes for the island-province, and for the coming years to be a fresh and new period of magnificent transformation starting this July.

Screenshots of Marinduque Election 2019 Results from Halalan 2019 ABS-CBN:

CNN International called Marinduque the Philippine's next holiday haven

Marinduque's southern extremity. Photo: Eli J Obligacion

Did you know? CNN International once reported: "For years, Marinduque has been under the foreign tripper's radar, but not for long, if politicos and developers have their way. The laid-back island-province is now being touted as the Philippines’ next holiday haven..."

There were domestic flights then until something went very wrong somewhere. But Cebu Pacific Airlines now operates here, with no one getting in the way and the Marinduque Airport after runway rehabilitation, its terminal has been refurbished with local and national officials coming down to see the changes.

In May 2010, CNN International was saying that Marinduque could very well be “the next tourist hotspot in Asia”, together with Phu Quoc in Vietnam, Hainan Island in China and the Ho Tram Strip in Vietnam where billion dollar investments for resorts were being funneled by their governments and developers.

There wasn't even a billion peso investment by developers in Marinduque at that time and even now, and here they're talking dollars ha?

In June 2010, CNN followed its Marinduque sojourn with “25 killer things to do this summer”. That’s for people who look to the beach for some relief from the heat during vacation. In No. 12 was its recommendation to “visit one of Asia’s next gen tourist hotspots”, citing only one island, Marinduque in the Philippines and three other places in Vietnam and China, which are “up and coming tourist hotspots…amazing summer destinations, each for unique reasons.”

Incidentally, CNN article's mention of certain facts in a good light were apparently referenced from my blog. It even linked the mentioned article to a video I created.

This blogger.

Therefore, time's ripe for us to make a comeback in the foreign tripper's radar.

Cong. Lord Allan Velasco has done and continues to do his part. Justice Presby Velasco, Jr., so inspired and bullish to see Marinduque's agri and eco-tourism and cultural development could hardly wait to roll up his sleeves to face the task once elected governor of 'one of the world's top islands'!

Indeed, Marinduque's rare and golden opportunity to be a travel star in the region is here and now.

Read: Marinduque as one of the world's top islands

Si dating Associate Justice 'Presby' Velasco, Jr. at ang lalawigan ng Marinduque

Naging produkto ng pampublikong paaralan si dating Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco, Jr. “Presby” ang kinagigiliwang tawag sa kanya ng mga malapit na kaibigan, kamag-anak at mga kakilala.

Nag-aral siya sa Juan Sumulong Elementary School (First Honorable Mention) at sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas (UP), siya nag-High-School hanggang college.

Natapos niya ang Bachelor of Arts Degree sa Political Science mula sa UP sa loob lamang ng tatlong taon at nagpatuloy sa pagkuha ng Bachelor of Laws Degree mula rin sa University of the Philippines.

Habang nasa UP College of Law, si Justice Velasco ay miyembro ng Order of the Purple Feather Honor Society at nagsilbi sa Editorial Board ng Philippine Law Journal. Nagtapos siya bilang ikawalo sa Class of 1971.

Siya ay ika-anim naman sa hanay ng 1971 Philippine Bar Examination with bar rating of 89.85%.

20 taon siyang nag-praktis ng abugasya bago siya naging miyembro ng Judicial and Bar Council noong 1993.

Nahirang na Undersecretary ng Department of Justice mula 1995 hanggang Abril 1998.  Kasabay noon siya pa rin ang hinirang na Commissioner of the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board; Chairman of the Board of Pardons and Parole; Commissioner of the Commission on Settlement of Land Disputes; at Member of the Committee on Privatization.

Noong 1998, siya ay hinirang bilang Justice ng Court of Appeals. Siya ay niranggo bilang ikawalo sa disposisyon ng mga kaso nang siya ay naging Court Administrator noong 2001.

Si Justice Presby ay nagsilbi rin sa Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) sa iba't ibang mga kapasidad: bilang National President noong 1987, as Commissioner of the IBP Committee on Bar Discipline, and as Honorary Chairman and Past National Co-Chairman of the IBP National Committee on Legal Aid.

Pinarangalang Most Outstanding Jurist ng Consumers Union of the Philippines noong 2000.

MAHISTRADO NG KORTE SUPREMA

Nahirang po siya bilang Mahistrado ng Korte Suprema noong Marso 2006. Ang mandatory age of retirement po niya ay noong nakaraang taon, 2018 sa buwan ng Agosto sa kanyang ika-70 kaarawan.

Sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon sa Korte Suprema ay siya lamang ang tanging Mahistrado na nagretiro na walang naiwan o nabinbin na kaso sa ilalim ng kanyang pamamahala.

Ang ulirang pamilya ng mga Velasco

KABIYAK NI LORNA QUINTO, tubong Mogpog at Torrijos.

Si Justice Velasco ay ikinasal sa isang napakagandang anak ng Mogpog, si Lorna Quinto-Velasco na ngayon ay nagsisilbi bilang punong-bayan ng Torrijos; may tatlo silang naging anak: si Vincent Michael, municipal administrator ng Torrijos; si Lord Allan, ang ating minamahal at napakasipag na Congressman; si Tricia Nicole Velasco-Catera (ang maganda at masipag na Representante sa Kongreso ng MATA Party List).

PAGSASAAYOS SA ESTADO NG ISLANG-LALAWIGAN NG MARINDUQUE, isang 4th CLASS Province

Cong.Lord Allan Velasco, Pangulong Rodrigo R. Duterte at dating Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco, Jr.

Ang tuluyang pag-angat sa wakas ng Marinduque mula sa kasalukuyang estado nito na nag-iisa na lamang at napag-iwanang lalawigan sa MIMAROPA bilang isang 4^th Class province ang kanyang pangunahing haharapin bilang susunod na Gobernador ng Marinduque.

Base sa kanyang napakalawak na karanasan ni Justice Presby, hindi na marahil aaksayahin ng mga mabubuting mamamayang Marindukenyo ang pambihirang oportunidad na maisakatuparan ang layuning ito.

Inaasahan namang mabilis itong magaganap sa panahong ito dahilan sa malaking ayuda, tulong at suporta ng kasalukuyang administrasyon ni Pangulong Rodrigo R. Duterte at ni Congressman Lord Allan Q. Velasco kay "Gob. Presby".

Marinduque political matriarch Carmencita Reyes dies; Romulo Bacorro sworn in as governor

Carmencita O. Reyes. From FB of  Lorenzo Vega

Marinduque governor and former representative Carmencita Ongsiako Reyes passed away, her relatives confirmed.

She was 87.

Reyes’ son-in-law and Batangas governor Hermilando Mandanas said Reyes died Monday.

In a text message, Mandanas said Reyes suffered from “an aneurysm in the stomach.” The family provided no other details regarding the governor’s prior condition.

Reyes’ grandson Lorenzo Vega, in a Facebook post, said: “Nanay Carmencita will always be remembered for her dedicated and untiring service to the people of Marinduque.”

Reyes served twice as Marinduque’s lone representative from 1987 to 1998 and from 2007 to 2010. She was governor from 1998 to 2007 and from 2010 to 2019.

Her late husband, Edmundo Reyes Sr., was a former Immigration Commissioner.

Her remains lie in state at the Heritage Park in Taguig City until January 9 and would be flown to Marinduque on January 10.

The funeral mass is set on January 11 at the Sanctuario de San Antonio Church in Makati City. - Inquirer.Net

Carmencita O. Reyes, Photo from Lorenzo Vega's FB

Romulo Bacorro, Jr. sworn in as Marinduque governor

Meanwhile, DILG Marinduque program manager, Joyce S. Ulpo posted in her FB that Vice-Governor Romulo Bacorro, Jr. took his oath of office today, January 8 as Governor of Marinduque due to the permanent vacancy resulting from Gov. Reyes' demise.

By virtue of succession under Section 44 of the Local Government Code of 1991, Bacorro will serve only the unexpired term of his predecessor.

Romulo Bacorro takes oath as Governor. From left Ret. Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco, Jr., Gov. Bacorro, Cong. Lord Allan Velasco and Boac Bishop Marcelino Antonio Maralit, Jr.

The said oath was administered by Congressman Lord Allan Velasco and witnessed by the Department Heads, Board Members, Ret. AJ Presbitero Velasco, Bishop Junie Maralit, PNP PD Landicho, Dir.Jacinto Mateo of CSC, DILG PD Frederick Gumabol, Outcome Manager Zali Z. Semilla, OIC Program Manager Joyce Semilla Ulpo and other officials and employees of the Provincial Government.

Tatay Digong in Marinduque for Cong. Lord Allan Velasco and wife Wen's birthday celebration

A quite relaxed Tatay Digong speaks to the people of Marinduque 'from the heart'.

So it was no less than the President of the Philippines who came to be one with the people of this island-province to grace the double birthday celebration of Cong. Lord Allan Velasco and his lovely wife, Wen.

Duterte was accompanied by Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Bong Go. No one knew if it's certain these two VIP's would come for it was already past six in the evening.

The program held at Marinduque State College (MSC) that police estimated to have swelled to about 8,000 started at 2:00 pm. By that time the president's popular daughter, Mayor Inday Sara Duterte was on stage with the birthday celebrators flanked by retired Justice Presby Velasco, Jr. and guests Secretary Francis Tolentino,  Senator JV Ejercito, Cong. Dong Mangudadatu.

Cong. Lord Allan Velasco, Davao CIty Mayor Inday Sara Duterte. Behind them: Retired Justice Presby Velasco Jr., Sec. Francis Tolentino, Madam Wen Velasco, Sen. JV Ejercito, 

It's Sara's second time in Marinduque she said, the first one was when she visited Bellarocca Resort Island during it's popularity years ago. It's her wish, she said for Marinduque to take care of its 'garbo ng Marinduque' stressing garbo is a word in Bisaya meaning 'pride'. 'Pride of Marinduque', she said referring to the Marinduque congressman celebrating his birthday. 

Sara also talked about her regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HnP) and was elated to open its doors for the forming of an alliance with the local party Kapatirang Marinduqueno, chaired by Velasco. This is in the same manner that her party has formed an alliance for change with many national, regional and provincial alliances. 'Together we share the same beliefs, trust and vision". she said.

Sec. Francis Tolentino

Presidential political adviser Francis Tolentino reminisced his days as Tagaytay mayor when he became a close friend of Justice Velasco, then a Court Administrator and came to know the latter well. 'Marinduque is in good hands and could also become the next Tagaytay', said Tolentino.

The girl group, 4th Impact

4th Impact, a girl group that rose to popularity when they competed in the television show X Factor UK then rendered two songs to the delight of the crowd, "one of the best audiences we have ever encountered, pinaninindigan po kami ng balahibo", announced one of them. The audience clamored for more, that they had to ask the birthday celebrant if they could sing another song knowing 'we are under time pressure because of our panauhing pandangal'. The group then shared their X-Factor audition piece.

Homegrown talent Angel Penaflor

After 4th Impact was the turn of homegrown talent Angel Penaflor to wow the crowd with her singing prowess. Exuding great confidence, she spoke in her native dialect, no puntong Maynila, the girl coming from Matuyatuya, Torrijos. The proud audience went wild.

By 6:00 pm the show had to be cut short after performances from other guest talents. A podium with presidential seal was put in place on the left side of the stage. Technical people and the soldiers were in a hurry to keep things in order.

It was already dark, but a chopper hovered above the MSC event venue, decreased power and landed on the ground. It was 6:18 pm on my watch. The crowd cheered, they knew who were in that chopper. "Welcome President Rodrigo Roa Duterte" was projected on screen.

The rest is history.

Photo credit: Marinduque News

It was really like giving a first-hand report to the people of Marinduque on what had transpired since he was here during his presidential campaign. 

Part of the MSC ground to be used at that time for the purpose was decorated with red, white and blue colors, but less than a day before his arrival came the news: presidential candidate Duterte would not be allowed the use of MSC ground at all cost for his Marinduque campaign. The municipality of Gasan then welcomed candidate Digong with open arms. 

And the rest was simply just history. 

But now on this occasion today that materialized without any hitch, these pictures are enough to paint a thousand words.

Part of the historic mammoth crowd

Tatay Digong raises arm of Cong. Velasco and Justice 'Governor' Presby Velasco

Angel Penaflor coaches the President in singing "IKAW" which he changed at times with "Kayo"

LAV dancers with the Mobsters

That's LAV singing and dancing

Tatay Digong led the singing of Happy Birthday then went on to sing "Ikaw" for the people of Marinduque. What more could you ask?

Photos courtesy of John Mendoza, CTTO