‘Villar slayer’: Councilor wins Las Piñas congressional race

Metro Manila, Philippines - Las Piñas City Councilor Mark Anthony Santos has won the congressional race against Senator Cynthia Villar, securing 109,220 votes — well ahead of Villar’s 79,315.

Santos was proclaimed congressman-elect early Tuesday, marking a significant shift in the city’s political landscape. The congressional post has been held by the Villar family since 1992.

“Tapos na po ang eleksyon. Pangako ko po: trabaho, at kaagapay ko po ang tulong ng bawat mamamayan ng Las Piñas,” Santos said in an ambush interview after his proclamation.

[Translation: The election is over. I promise to deliver jobs and work hand in hand with every Las Piñas resident]

Santos currently serves as a city councilor and will now transition to a seat in Congress.

Villar, who ran for the House seat, is the matriarch of a powerful political family.

Her daughter, Camille Villar, is part of the Senate’s Magic 12 in the partial and unofficial tally, while her son, Mark Villar, is an incumbent senator.

Meanwhile, members of the Villar family also went head-to-head in the city’s mayoral race.