Mayoralty Race: Labella unseats Osmeña

CEBU, Philippines — With majority of votes cast in his favor, Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella was last night heading for victory in the mayoralty race against reelectionist Mayor Tomas Osmeña in a contest marred by allegations of vote buying and harassment.

The Commission on Elections Board of Canvassers has yet to proclaim a winner as of last night but Labella was leading by a comfortable margin of 17,326 votes. As of 12:30 p.m. partial and official results, Labella got 255,893 votes while Osmeña got 236,925 votes.

Osmeña, in a meeting with the other Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) candidates in his house last night, conceded defeat.

In a video posted on his Facebook account, Osmeña said he is thankful to his supporters for journeying with him in yesterday’s political exercise.

“This is your mayor thanking all of you for your joining us to this journey which is now coming to an end,” Osmeña told his fellow candidates and members of his family.

He asked the members of the BOPK to continue what he had started and his ideas. The mayor also asked them not to worry about him.

“I’m not suffering at all. I’m not poor, I will not go hungry. Don’t worry about me,” he said.

Former mayor Michael Rama was also leading in the vice mayoralty race against Councilor Mary Ann delos Santos. Rama has 252,108 votes as against 225,409 votes of delos Santos.

Turnout

The records of the Comelec show that thousands of voters failed to vote. According to the Comelec, only 519,103 out of 709,608 registered voters who have cast their votes.

For the House of Representatives, reelectionists Raul del Mar and Rodrigo Abellanosa are also leading by 124,493 votes and 152,274 votes, respectively.

In the City Council, BOPK bets are apparently dominating the race with nine of them in the winning circle.

The eight candidates for councilor with the highest votes in the north district are Nestor Archival with 117,007 votes; Prisca Niña Mabatid with 106,662;  Joy Augustus Young with 106,214;  Sisinio Andales with 100,086; Lea Japson with 99,788; Alvin Arcilla with 98, 160; Alvin Dizon with 96,774; and Raymond Alvin Garcia with votes 95,135.

In the south district,  former basketball player Dondon Hontiveros is leading the race with 153,469 votes; David Tumulak with 148,849 ; Eduardo Rama, Jr. with 134,834; Antonio Cuenco with 133, 207; Eugenio Gabuya, Jr. with 116,919 ; Renato Osmeña, Jr. with 115,692; Yayoy Alcoseba with 111,825; and Phillip Zafra  with 109,807 votes.

Despite enjoying a comfortable lead, Labella refused to claim victory until the canvassing is over.

"Let us just wait for the final result of the counting. Akong ikasulti, we are ready, sa akong giingon nga one should be magnanimous in victory and ang isa mag graciously in defeat. Og kinsa man gani ang palaran, mao nay prinsipyo nga akoang batunan," Labella told The FREEMAN.

Rama did not make any comment as of last night.

On the eve of the elections, there were reports of vote buying and harassments. There were also reports of terrorism in the mountain barangays allegedly perpetrated by unidentified armed men. Voters were threatened not to go out and vote.

Some people were also arrested for allegedly buying votes, including Sangguniang Kabataan officials allied with BOPK in Barangay Cogon Ramos.

Inhibit

Meanwhile, Atty. Marchel Sarno, election officer of South District, inhibited as chairman of the board of canvassers after receiving death threats and insinuations of being biased.

“Comelec cannot afford any insinuation nga ingon anang questioning anang credibility. Importante is walay doubt sa credibility, tinood or dili ang alegasyon. Ang tuyo ana is whatever result sa atong elections karon must be acceptable sa tanang parties,” he told reporters.

Sarno was replaced by north district election officer Chauncey Boholst.

Sarno said there will always be losing candidates who will question the results and raise accusations of fraud and injustice.

“Ang importante dinha, any threat, wala nato gi-take lightly. We will not bow to that threat nga we will not function as election officer,” Sarno said.— FPL (FREEMAN)