By Jennifer P. Rendon
Newcomers Howard Guintu and Paolo Gerardo Roxas vied for dominance in Capiz’s 1st District race.
Guintu emerged victorious over Roxas, a member of the province’s powerful Roxas political clan.
Unofficial results with 97 percent of votes counted showed Guintu leading with 130,531 votes, while Roxas had 108,240.
The 33-year-old Roxas topped the vote in Roxas City and Panit-an.
Guintu, however, secured wins in Pontevedra, Pilar, Panay, Maayon and President Roxas.
Guintu’s camp called it a hard-fought victory, noting Roxas had the backing of the local political group One Capiz.
Guintu is the current representative of the Pinatatag na Ugnayan para sa mga Oportunidad sa Pabahay ng Masa (PINUNO) party list.
He traces his Capizeño roots to his mother, who hails from Barangay Lanot in Roxas City.
He earned a double degree in finance and entrepreneurial management from the University of San Francisco in 2011.
Guintu previously led Golden Home Realty Development Inc., a full-service firm focused on Integrated Lifestyle Communities and the real estate arm of his family’s business group.
Roxas is the great-grandson of former Philippine President Manuel Acuña Roxas.
He graduated from Yale University in 2017 with a degree in economics.
