The 2004 Valenzuela local elections were held in Valenzuela, Philippines, on May 10, 2004, as part of the 2004 Philippine general election. Voters elected the city's mayor and vice mayor, its two members of the House of Representatives, and twelve regular members of the Valenzuela City Council, with six councilors elected from each of the city's two congressional districts.
The mayor and vice mayor were elected citywide in separate plurality elections. The vice mayor served as the presiding officer of the city council. Each of Valenzuela's two congressional districts elected one member of the House of Representatives and six regular members of the city council. The councilors were elected through plurality-at-large voting, under which a voter could vote for up to six candidates in their district.
The division of the city into two congressional districts was provided for by Valenzuela's city charter, Republic Act No. 8526.
Background
Jose Emmanuel Carlos had served as mayor since 1995 and was ineligible to seek a fourth consecutive term under the three-term limit imposed by the Local Government Code. Carlos instead ran for representative of the first district. Sherwin Gatchalian, the incumbent first-district representative, ran to succeed Carlos as mayor. Gatchalian's brother, Rex Gatchalian, contested the congressional seat that Sherwin vacated.
Lakas–CMD nominated Carlos's wife, Margarita "Rita" Carlos, for mayor. Magtanggol Gunigundo, who had represented Valenzuela's second district from 1998 to 2001, ran under the LDP.
Canvassing
A partial count released by the National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections on May 15 showed Gatchalian leading with 39,921 votes, followed by Gunigundo with 33,534 and Carlos with 31,081.
The official canvass was delayed by objections concerning discrepancies in several election returns. Representatives of some candidates challenged the inclusion of contested returns during proceedings before the city board of canvassers. Gatchalian was ultimately proclaimed mayor with 68,650 votes, a margin of 7,403 votes over Gunigundo.
Results
Mayor
Gatchalian received 38.09 percent of the votes cast for the three mayoral candidates. Gunigundo placed second with 61,247 votes, while Carlos placed third with 50,313.
Incumbent vice mayor Antonio "Tony" Espiritu of the NPC was reelected with 95,733 votes. His opponents were former city councilor Reynaldo "Rey" Cuadra of Lakas–CMD and Bombit Bernardo of the LDP.
Outgoing mayor Jose Emmanuel "Bobbit" Carlos won the first-district congressional election. He defeated Rex Gatchalian, the brother of mayor-elect Sherwin Gatchalian, and city councilor Romeo Bularan.
Six councilors were elected from each congressional district. The names below use the formal versions subsequently published in city government records.
Sources: The Philippine Star and the City Government of Valenzuela
Aftermath
The newly elected officials began their three-year terms on June 30, 2004. The election resulted in Sherwin Gatchalian and Jose Emmanuel Carlos exchanging offices: Gatchalian left the House of Representatives to become mayor, while Carlos completed his mayoral tenure and became the first-district representative. Antonio Espiritu continued as vice mayor.
12"Valenzuela Ngayon"(PDF). City Government of Valenzuela. October 2004. Retrieved August 8, 2026.{{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
