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| A market vendor captured the hearts of the people in Dolores, Eastern Samar, and bested a doctor in the mayoral elections. Photo: Francis Rivera/Facebook |
TACLOBAN CITY —The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) announced that Rodrigo "Onoy" Rivera, a market vendor and a former barangay chairman who ran independently, has been elected Mayor of Dolores, Eastern Samar.
His rival, Dr. Zaldy Carpeso of the PDP-Laban, received only 10,946 votes, compared to Rivera's 11,508 votes.
"I prayed and thanked God. I praised God for answering my prayer. This victory is for the people to provide the services that the people need, and government services that everyone can avail of," Rivera told CNN in the Waray-Waray language.
PARAG TINDA HIN OTANON HA MERKADO, DAOG PAGKA ALKALDE HA BUNGTO HAN DOLORES Gin proklamar han COMELEC kumo bag-o nga...
Posted by ESTE News on Wednesday, May 11, 2022
The newly elected mayor also stated that he is working on developing solutions to address issues relating to drainage, streetlights, classrooms, and hospitals.
He went on to say that he will also put his attention on establishing programs that provide means of subsistence and preserve peace and order with the assistance of the armed forces and the police force.
Onoy Rivera, the newly elected mayor, will replace Shonny Nino Carpeso, who ran unopposed for vice mayor in the said town.
For nine years, Rivera, 62, served as barangay chairman in Gap-ang, Dolores. Following the end of his term in 2010, he began selling fish and vegetables at the public market.