Villar, Aguilar families cement grip in Las Piñas after sweeping midterm polls

MANILA - Relatives of Senator Cynthia Villar on Tuesday dominated local elective posts in Las Piñas, after daughter Camille was proclaimed district Representative while sister-in-law Imelda Aguilar is poised to keep the mayoral seat. 

Camille, the only daughter of Sen. Villar and husband Manny, was proclaimed as Las Piñas City Congresswoman shortly after midnight, garnering 173,917, according to data from the Comelec transparency server.

“My daughter [Camille] is taking over the Congressional seat. That Congressional seat has been with our family since 1987. It’s not something that we are willing to give up because it was given to us by our parents and we will give it to our children,” Villar told ANC.

“If we’re not good in Metro Manila we will not be reelected,” she added.

Incumbent Mayor Imelda Aguilar, Villar's sister-in-law, dominated the mayoral race in Las Piñas with 170,972 votes, beating competitors Louie Casimiro with only 12,394 votes, Miranda Conrado with 6,356 votes and Benjamin Gonzales with 4,985 votes.

Aguilar's daughter April is also leading the vice mayoral race after bagging 161,789 votes against competitor Antonio Abella Jr. who garnered 25,638 votes. 

Two other nephews of Sen. Villar are also leading the race for councilors in both First and Second districts of Las Piñas. Peewee Aguilar got 79,939 votes, leading the councilor race in the First District, while Lord Aguilar got 72,159 votes in the second district. 

• Cynthia Villar on course to top Senate race

Sen. Villar, who is on track to top the 2019 senatorial race after bagging 24,463,53 votes as of 2:50 p.m., commended Filipinos who fulfilled their "civic duty" to vote.

“Hindi pa po tapos ang bilangan pero natutuwa po ako at nagpapasalamat dahil marami sa ating kababayan ang sumusuporta at naniniwala na isa ako sa mga Senador na makakatulong sa kanila,” Villar said in a statement. 

The lawmaker praised authorities for the "generally peaceful conduct of elections." However, she expressed regret over cases of election-related violence, and malfunctioning SD cards and vote counting machines.

“I am sure this election will be the basis of discussion kung paano natin mai-improve ang automated elections,” Villar said.

Villar earlier told ANC's Headstart that there were "good dynasties" especially in Metro Manila. But the lawmaker said she is willing to comply should an anti-dynasty law be passed. 

Villar's father Filemon Aguilar was a long-term Mayor of Las Piñas City, while her husband business tycoon Manny Villar was former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Senate President.