First District Rep. Danilo Domingo, Fifth District Rep. Ambrosio Cruz Jr and Sixth District Rep. Salvador Pleyto. Photos taken from the internet and social media accounts

CITY OF MALOLOS–For these three gentlemen and leaders, running for a congressional seat is lovelier the third and second time around. 


Both First District Rep. Danilo Domingo and Fifth District Ambrosio Cruz Jr. who twice lost during earlier congressional bids in their respective districts finally nailed it in the recent May 9 election. 


Domingo, the man behind the “Maiba Naman” slogan savors sweet victory in his return to Bulacan political arena after ten years of focus in his professional career as a high caliber lawyer when he unseated Rep. Jonathan Sy-Alvarado through 202,712 — 140,798 votes. Alvarado was in his third term bid.


Domingo had served as Malolos mayor until 1992. He first ran in the first congressional district in that same year but lost to late Rep. Francisco “Jun” Aniag.


His high scores in the recent polls is considered a return bout as he run and won against the son of former Governor, Vice Governor, Bulacan First District Congressman and Hgonoy Mayor Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado who beat him for his second bid in the first congressional district in 1998.


Domingo this time won the hearts of the people of the first district as he vowed to address the perennial flooding, the failed first district re-districting and the alleged questionable laws passed about Bulacan airport in Bulakan town where expropriations are feared to loom. 
What also put Domingo in triumph is the dominant and undeniable truth that Gov. Daniel Fernando who won landslide against former Vice Gov. Alvarado backs him up and was all behind his candidacy.

First District Rep. Danilo Domingo and Sixth District Rep. Salvador Pleyto with Korean investors after they took their oath before Gov. Daniel Fernando and was witnessed by Vice Gov. Alex Castro, Provincial Administrator Antonette Constantino and Special Assistant to the Governor Michaelangelo Lobrin last month at the Office of the Governor in the Capitol. Photo by Anton Luis Catindig


Cruz on the other hand is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a successful businessman who had finished two seasons of being the mayor of Guiguinto from 1998-2007 and 2013-2022. 


However, he unfortunately lost to father and son former Second District Congressman Pedro Pancho and Gavini “Apol” Pancho in 2007 and 2010 in the second district.


Following the passage of RA 11546, the redistricting of Bulacan into six legislative districts in May 2021, the second district was halved. Guiguinto, Balagtas, Pandi and Bocaue became the fifth district and Baliwag, Bustos and Plaridel remain in the second district.


Cruz transformed Guiguinto into one of the most progressive towns of Bulacan when he aggressively pushed for the opening of several road links of his town to North Luzon Expressway–the Tabe Exit and the now Plaridel Bypass which had spurred economic growth in the town.


He is committed to bring these urbanization and development to the whole of the fifth district. 


The people of Bulacan owe the recognition of the province as one of those with the most celebrated and colorful festivals to him as the man behind the now 23 years Halamanan Festival of Guiguinto. 


Cruz won against his rival, Atty. Arnel Alcaraz of Pandi through 128,065–112899 votes. 


Engr. Salvador “Ador” Pleyto of Sta. Maria town who withdrew his congressional bid for the fourth district against Fourth District Rep. Linabelle Ruth Villarica in 2010 had won in the recent polls.


He defeated former Norzagaray Mayor Alfredo Germar with 81,307–76,430 votes.


Pleyto was former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary until he retired in 2005.


He was also formerly assigned as DPWH Regional Director for National Capital Region and Principal Representative of the DPWH in the Task Force for the Safety of Critical Infrastructures. 


He is the father of former Sta. Maria town Mayor Russel Pleyto.