Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. and political allies under his homegrown Sulong Zambales Party (SZP) handily won the local elections here on Monday, defeating foes from rival camps and taking most key positions in the province with overwhelming majority votes.

The re-electionist Ebdane, who already has three three-year terms as Zambales governor tucked under his belt, crushed the gubernatorial ambition of three-term Congresswoman Cheryl Deloso-Montalla of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) with a total of 199,874 votes against the latter’s 133,479.

Ebdane’s running mate Jaq Khonghun (Nacionalista Party), a political neophyte from the formidable Khonghun political clan of Subic, Zambales, also emerged victorious in the vice-gubernatorial contest with a 215,668-win over independent candidate Ramon Lacbain’s 90,098.

Meanwhile, Ebdane ally Bing Maniquiz (SZP), formerly the mayor of Botolan town here, trounced former Zambales governor Amor Deloso (NPC) for the congressional seat in the Zambales first district, 144,060 against 76,906.

In the Zambales first district, Jay Khonghun (NP), who was Ebdane’s running mate in 2019, also won as congressman with 156,561 votes against the 40,262 total of Mitos Magsaysay (PDP-Laban), a political veteran who had served three terms as representative of the first district.

Ebdane and the other winners in the local election were proclaimed by the Comelec Chairman Lydia Florentino-Pangilinan here on Tuesday morning.

Sulong Zambales Party candidates likewise dominated the competition for seats in the provincial council, taking eight of the 10 elective positions.

Those who won the three council seats allotted for the first district are King Gutierrez (SZP), with 59,125 votes; John-John Felarca (SZP), 55,870; and Ike Delgado (SZP), 53,156.

In the second district, the winning candidates are Rundy Ebdane (SZP), the governor’s son and former mayor of the capital town of Iba, with 118,219 votes; Reena Mae Collado (SZP), 110,922; Jun Pangan (SZP), 101,287; Sam Ablola (WPP), 82,536; Reynaldo Tarongoy (SZP), 70,801; Sancho Abasta III (PFP), 66,414; and Lugil Ragadio (SZP), with 61,075 votes.

Ebdane’s allies also wrested executive control of eight of the 13 municipalities in the province. These are Billy Aceron (SZP), who won as mayor of Palauig town with 13,124 votes; Irene Maniquiz (SZP) of Iba, 17,424; Omar Ebdane (SZP) of Botolan, 14,774; Ronald Apostol (SZP) of Cabangan, 8,538; Hart Jeresano (SZP) of San Felipe, 5,942; Elmer Soria (SZP) of San Marcelino, 17,420; Jeff Khonghun (NP) of Castillejos, 16,505; and Jonathan Khonghun (SZP) of Subic, with 43,214 votes.

The elected mayors from other parties are Consolacion Marty (Ind) of Santa Cruz town, with 10,904 votes; Nik-Nok Edquilang (Promdi) of Candelaria, 7,324; and Arsenia Lim (PRP) of Masinloc, with 24,213 votes.

Before Ebdane’s victory over former Congresswoman Cheryl Deloso in this election, the former defense and public works secretary had won over the Deloso patriarch Amor in 2010, 2013 and 2019. Deloso only beat him once—in the 2016 gubernatorial contest. — Taktikom News & Features