Cheyenne Suarez

Las Piñas congressman-elect on defeating Cynthia Villar: 'There's clamor for change'

Article (news)

Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17472790237681747062171557IMG_6947.webp" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Las Piñas City councilor Mark Anthony Santos files his certificate of candidacy, October 6, 2024. Raphael Bosano, ABS-CBN News/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Las Piñas City councilor Mark Anthony Santos files his certificate of candidacy, October 6, 2024. <em>Raphael Bosano, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — Mark Antony Santos, the newly-elected congressional representative of Las Piñas, said Thursday it was &quot;not in my wildest dreams&quot; to challenge the Villar family&#x27;s decades-long hold in the post. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/12/santos-pulls-off-massive-upset-win-vs-cynthia-villar-in-las-pi-as-0412">Santos pulls off massive upset win vs Cynthia Villar in Las Piñas</a></div><p>&quot;Not in my wildest dream talaga na tumakbo and to fight against a well-entrenched family in Las Piñas,&quot; he told ANC&#x27;s Headstart.</p><p>Santos was proclaimed Las Piñas congressman-elect after defeating Sen. Cynthia Villar. As of Thursday&#x27;s partial and unofficial count, Santos had obtained 108,206 votes while Villar only had 78,526 votes.</p><p>It was one of the most stunning upsets in the 2025 midterm polls considering that the Villars had occupied the said congressional post since 1992.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_vwZXkgRrV0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>&quot;If you can imagine pinakamayaman, number 1 sa Forbes list... It&#x27;s a historical record sa Las Piñas, since 1992 nasa Villar ang mga congress representatives namin dito,&quot; Santos said.</p><p>But Santos said he remained &quot;grounded&quot; and gave in to the public clamor for change. </p><p>&quot;Kasi grounded tayo, nagkaroon tayo ng consultation. Siguro public clamor na rin ito for a change,&quot; he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/video/news/04/11/19/there-is-such-thing-as-a-good-dynasty-says-villar">There is such thing as a good dynasty, says Villar</a></div><p>Santos was long-time councilor in the city, and aligned with the Aguilars, a family who is also related to the Villars. </p><p>The new congressman denied that his victory was only a result of the alleged infighting between the 2 political families, adding that he was an &quot;independent&quot; candidate. </p><p>Santos said his advocacy in the upcoming Congress is to push for socialized housing. </p><p>He said he hoped that his win could be an inspiration for leaders who were &quot;never given a chance&quot; due to the country&#x27;s political landscape. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/12/santos-on-pace-to-win-las-pi-as-congressional-race-vs-villar-aguilars-expected-to-stay-put-2311">Halalan 2025: Aguilars maintain grip on Las Piñas’ local posts, Santos beats Villar</a></div><p>&quot;Maraming qualified na magagaling na tao. Pero dahil sa situation, political landscape, talagang wala eh, never given a chance. I hope sa susunod na eleksyon, pero alam mo, ano to kumbaga nagising na mga tao,&quot; he said. </p><p>Santos also offered his hands to the Villars after the election. </p><p>&quot;I&#x27;m offering my hand to them, sana tumulong na lang sila sa Las Piñas, tapos na ang eleksyon, let&#x27;s buckle down to work,&quot; he said. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS: </strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ErYyVbV96hA?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rNmuBMdCHBk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The congressman-elect denied that his victory was only a result of the alleged infighting between the Villars and Aguilars.</p>

The congressman-elect denied that his victory was only a result of the alleged infighting between the Villars and Aguilars.