Farmer to take reins of gov't as Santa Lucia, Ilocos Sur mayor

Joseph Simon Valdez has worked as a farmer for 17 years, plowing the fields and harvesting crops and is about to face his biggest challenge yet.

On June 30, Valdez will take the highest seat of power in the town of Santa Lucia, Ilocos Sur and govern more than 25,000 people.

In this week's episode of GMA News TV's Investigative Documentaries, one of the stories is about how a farmer decided to run for office and by doing so has managed to topple a political clan's two-decade rule.

Valdez earned 6,352 votes in the elections last May while incumbent Mayor Ferdinand Hernaez had 5,783.

Even with his experience in local government as a kagawad and a barangay chairman, the farmer was an unlikely choice for mayor.

After Valdez disclosed his political plan, the reaction of his wife tells it all.  "Nagbibiro ka ba?" she asked.

Edjerita Valdez, however, became emotional when other people belittled her husband.

"Bakit daw siya tatakbo kasi bumibili daw siya ng isang salok ng bigas. Masakit po 'yon. Napakasakit...Bakit daw siya tatakbo eh wala daw siyang pera, magbubukid lang daw siya."

He may have won over his town mates by his simple background.

"I think iyong kasimplehan ng isang tao nagbibigay ng inspirasyon sa mga mamamayan na ito hindi ito gagawa ng masama," Dr. Milwida Guevara of the Movement for Good Governance says.

"Simple lang siya kamukha namin. Simpleng pamumuhay. Hindi siya magkakaroon ng ambisyon na mangurakot kasi galing siya sa mahirap. Sanay siya sa hirap." — Margaret Claire Layug/BAP, GMA News