ILOILO – Former congressman Niel “Jun-jun” Tupas Jr. failed to defeat his reelectionist younger brother Cong. Raul Tupas of the 5th District in the recent midterm elections.
Three years ago in the May 9, 2016 elections, his wife Yvonne Angeli also lost to Raul.
Jun-jun got 72,806 votes, way below Raul’s 138,343 votes as shown by the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) transparency server as of 6:44 p.m. yesterday with 99.63 percent of election returns already tallied.
“This is not the result we expected and worked hard for,” Jun-jun posted on Facebook.
Nevertheless, the former congressman – who served the 5th District for three consecutive three-year terms from 2007 to 2016 – thanked his supporters.
“Halin sa akon tagipusu-on, thank you guid sa nagbulig sa akon kag nanindugan despite the worst vote-buying (massive) in our district,” stated Jun-jun.
The eldest son of the late governor Niel Tupas Sr. did not say, however, if he would contest his younger brother’s win.
“I will never forget and will forever be grateful. Despite of this setback, I am truly blessed to have you kag kamo ang akon inspiration kag kusog,” he posted on Facebook.
Raul, on the other hand, said he was open to reconciling with his elder brother and would reach out to him. He did not say when.
“Tani mag-intindihanay na kami,” said Raul. “Sang nagligad nag-reach-out man ako pero ginbalibaran.”
The Tupas brothers have not been on speaking terms since 2015 following Raul’s decision to run against Jun-jun’s wife for congressman in the 2016 polls.
Jun-jun was then finishing his third and final consecutive term as congressman. He would have wanted wife Yvonne Angeli, a lawyer like him, to be his successor.
After defeating his sister-in-law, Raul – a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy – revealed he had promised his father and mother, former mayor Myrna Causing-Tupas of Barotac Viejo, that he would try to reconcile their family and unite the people of the 5th District.
“I will start this with my family,” said Raul. He failed this past three years.
For winning his reelection bid, Raul thanked the people of the 5th District made up of the municipalities of Carles, Estancia, Lemery, Balasan, Batad, San Dionisio, San Rafael, Ajuy, Sara, Concepcion, and Barotac Viejo.
“Sining nagligad nga tatlo ka tuig gintinguhaan gid naton makadala sang proyekto indi lang infrastructure kundi ang pag-deliver gid sang basic social services,” said Raul.
He vowed to sustain the district’s progress./PN
