Glitches delay Cebu results

CEBU, Philippines - Technical glitches in the May 9 elections further delayed the proclamation of some winners in Cebu, including re-electionist Governor Hilario Davide III.

Cebu Provincial Election Supervisor Eliseo Labaria said consolidation and canvassing system machines of Malabuyoc and Santander were brought to Comelec Manila for reconfiguration after the system bogged down.

He said they are still waiting for Comelec's report on Cordova's issue following the misdelivery of ballots intended for Barangay Gabi to Jolomaynon in Dalaguete.

The Cebu Provincial Board of Canvassers (PBOC) is holding in abeyance the proclamation of "apparent" governor, representative, and Provincial Board winners due to untransmitted election results from 2nd (Santander), 6th (Cordova) and 7th (Malabuyoc) districts.

Provincial prosecutor Pepita Jane Petralba, PBOC vice chairperson, said they cannot proclaim the "apparent winners" in the three districts without completing the transmission of votes.

"The board decided to hold off the proclamation until we generated the official certificate of canvass and proclamation," she said. The certificate can only be generated once the provincial canvass is done and results are transmitted for the national canvassing.

Labaria said results from Santander, Cordova and Malabuyoc could still affect the standing of PB members and governor. The towns have 58,664 combined voting population.

Incumbent Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III is leading by 15,361 votes against his opponent Winston Garcia. Davide has 594,273 votes while Garcia has 578,912.

Garcia, however, has already conceded defeat to the incumbent governor.

PBOC will reconvene at 3 p.m. today to continue the canvassing and dispose of different matters concerning the proclamation of winners for the Provincial Board.

Lower threshold

Lawyer Gonzalo Malig-on Jr. asked the PBOC to lower the election threshold for Cordova to proclaim his client Thadeo Jovito "Jonkie" Ouano of the 6th district. Jonkie substituted his father, the late PB Member Thadeo Ouano.

Malig-on invoked Comelec resolutions 10103 (General Instructions for canvassing board) and 10102 (protocols on lowering the threshold).  He said the transmission of votes from towns and cities reach to 96.91 percent as of 4 p.m. yesterday, explaining the resolutions allow lowering of election threshold not less than 90 percent.

He said election results of Gabi, Cordova will not affect the standing of Jonkie with 103,772 votes including 16,487 from Cordova town.

Ouano's closest rival, Glenn Bercede, has a total of 102,998 votes, including the 7,496 from Cordova. The district needs two representatives in the PB.

Proclaimed winners

PBOC proclaimed yesterday congressmen-elect Ramon "Red" Durano of the fifth district and Jonas Cortes of the sixth district. The proclamations were made at 4 p.m. at the Capitol Social Hall where the provincial canvassing is held.

Incumbent Congressman Wilfredo Caminero of the second district is also set to be proclaimed this afternoon for a new mandate even if the results from Malabuyoc are yet to be transmitted.

Caminero is leading with over 60,000 votes over Daday Celis of One Cebu Party and Cara Lou Kintanar of UNA.

Davide congratulated all the winning candidates saying "we look forward to working with them. It's a tough and close one based on the partial and official results."  —  with  May B. Miasco/FPL (FREEMAN)