Local elections was held in the Municipality of Makati on November 8, 1955, within the 1955 Philippine local elections, during the administration of President Ramon Magsaysay. The voters elected for the elective local posts in the town: the mayor, vice mayor, and the eight-member local municipal council. The municipality of Makati was then under the jurisdiction of the 1st congressional district of the Province of Rizal. The elections for the district representatives were held in 1953.
Background
Incumbent Makati mayor Jose D. Villena is running for his sixth term, having been elected in every mayoral election from 1934 to 1951. Villena was suspended by President Elpidio Quirino on June 19, 1953, due to alleged misconduct. He was succeeded as mayor by Councilor Ignacio Babasa, after the incumbent vice mayor, Bernardo Umali, was also suspended by the Makati Municipal Council, as a result of a separate case filed against him and councilor Abundio Suck. Umali eventually succeeded Babasa as acting mayor in 1954.
Villena is a staunch candidate of the Nacionalista Party. He selected Benjamin Guerra as his running mate.
His challengers for mayor were: Businessman Maximo Estrella of the Liberal Party, with Juan Patag as his running mate. Acting Mayor Bernardo Umali of the Democratic Party, with Ernesto Policarpio as his vice-mayoralty candidate.
At the time, Philippine politics was under the Two-party system, dominated by the Liberals and Nacionalistas, with the Democratic Party posing as a strong third political party.
Candidates
Nacionalista Party Name Party For Mayor Jose Daniel S. Villena Sr. For Vice MayorBenjamin Guerra For CouncilorIgnacio C. Babasa Amado E. Diaz Tomas B. Estacio Dionisio S. Flores Fortunato M. Gutierrez Pedro Reyes Juan E. Tengco Eliseo D. Viray Liberal Party Name Party For Mayor Maximo B. Estrella For Vice MayorJuan Patag For CouncilorJose Alarilla Benjamin Bautista Isidro de Leon Florentino Dimaguila Teotimo Gealogo Jose Mayor Abundio G. Suck Justino Ventura
Democratic Party Name Party For Mayor Bernardo Umali For Vice MayorErnesto Policarpio For CouncilorMaria Lourdes Cacho-Soriano Oscar Calvento Amado C. de Vera Jr Jose Feria Rafael C. Gaite Jose C. Luciano Fernando Suva Filomena Villamor
Independent For Vice Mayor Faustino Bautista
Results Mayor Maximo Estrella defeated suspended mayor Jose D. Villena and acting mayor Bernardo Umali.
Vice Mayor Juan Patag won against three other candidates.
Rizal 1st District Representative Eulogio S. Rodriguez Jr. won re-election 1st congressional district representative against two other contenders. The election for this position was held on November 10, 1953. This district holds jurisdiction over the Municipality of Makati.
Municipal Council
Five of eight winning candidates came from the Liberal Party. Three won from the Nacionalista Party
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Aftermath Estrella and Villena would battle for the mayoral post three more times: in 1959, 1963, 1967, which Estrella all won.
References