Panlilio sent to pluck his cabalen from evil

The son of incumbent Pasig City Mayor Vicente “Enteng” Eusebio, city councilor Robert “Bobby” Eusebio, was proclaimed by the local Commission on Elections (Comelec) as the newly elected Pasig City mayor early morning yesterday.

The younger Eusebio’s proclamation came after the city board of canvassers finished the canvassing of votes at around 5:45 a.m., and found him getting a total of 116,463 votes against his rival Pasig Rep. Robert “Dodot” Jaworski Jr.’s 107,141 votes.

Eusebio’s running mate, re-electionist Yoyong Martires, came out as winning vice mayoral bet, after getting more votes than Echie Ramos.

Also proclaimed along with Eusebio and Martires was lawyer Roman Romulo who defeated businessman Toti Cariño for the lone congressional seat of Pasig.

Eusebio credited his team’s success at the polls to their solid track record and a principled and issues-based campaign.

While the newly proclaimed mayor expressed elation and gratefulness for the confidence vested by his constituents to him and his ticket, he called on everyone, including their political rivals, to set aside their differences and to work together for the welfare of the city’s constituents.

“The people have spoken. It is now time for us to unite and come together in the spirit of amity and cooperation,” Eusebio said in a press statement.

“This election has never been a popularity race. At the end of the day, this election was all about differing views on local governance and we recognize the other team’s valiant effort. This victory does not only belong to us but to all Pasigueños who share our vision of having a vibrant, progressive and dynamic city,” Eusebio declared. 

Eusebio said that he is humbled by their unwavering support and the trust that they reposed on him and the other members of his team.

Although visibly elated by his team’s electoral success, Eusebio nevertheless recognized that they face a tough challenge ahead of them as he vowed to continue the programs that they have started, especially in the areas of public health, education, livelihood and peace and order.

“We have our work cut out for us. We will build on the gains we have posted in the previous years and redouble our efforts to improve the quality of life for our constituents, especially the poor,” he concluded.

Vi proclaimed

The Batangas provincial board of canvassers declared Vilma Santos as the governor-elect of the province, GMA News’ Flash Report said.

Santos won with a wide margin of 130,771 votes over incumbent Batangas Governor Armand Sanchez.

Though Sanchez won in Tanauan, his bailiwick, the votes cast for him was not enough to overturn the lead of the three-time Lipa mayor.

The board of canvassers said  Santos’ votes are enough to declare the movie icon winner of the gubernatorial race.

Santos missed the proclamation as she was in Manila when it happened. But her lawyers assured a grand proclamation rally is set on Monday in Batangas.

Santos is the only prominent celebrity-politician to make it in these elections.

Baby A.’s baby

Rachel Arenas, daughter of socialite and philanthropist Rosemarie “Baby” Arenas, won the tightly  contested four-cornered Pangasinan third district congressional fight by a very thin margin of 617 votes. 

Arenas, who was proclaimed winner last night, emerged victorious against her rivals Generoso Tulagan Jr, (Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino)with votes of 62,046 and 61,429. repectively.  Lawyer Gallant Soriano (Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Piliipinas) received 60,565 votes and Bayambang Mayor Leocadio de Vera, Jr. (Nationalist People’s Coalition) got 22,009.

Arenas said she spent sleepless nights waiting for the final result. She said she could not describe up to now how she really feels.

“Di pa nag-si-sink in sa akin yong panalo ko kasi naiisip ko pa rin hanggang ngayon yong hirap na dinaaanan namin (My victory hasn’t sunk in yet because I still think of the difficulties we went through),” she said.

She said lots of prayers, a good platform and hard work paved the way for her victory.

While Tulagan conceded victory to Arenas, Soriano said he is considering “all legal options so that the true will of the voters of the district would be respected and implemented.”

“In the meantime, our legal team has filed a manifestation with the San Carlos City board of canvassers to defer the issuance and transmittal of the certificate of canvass to the provincial board of canvassers because of the apparent huge discrepancies between our tally and the questionable final tally,” he said in a press statement.

However, lawyer Reddy Balarbar, provincial election supervisor and head of the provincial board of canvassers, said all protests should be brought before the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET).

Akbar and his wives

Meantime, the triumvirate of husband and wives led by Gov. Wahab Akbar dubbed as the “triple A” is seen to rule the local government affairs in Basilan as they lead in the elections.

Cherry Santos-Akbar, the second wife of Wahab, was proclaimed winner Friday in the mayoralty race in Isabela City.

Akbar and another wife – Jum – are still awaiting the final results of the canvassing but with big margins against their opponents.

Cherry wrested the mayoral seat after she garnered 17,000 plus votes or a difference of 5,000 votes against Richie Biel who got more than 12,000 votes from the city’s 43,000 registered voters.

Richie’s brother – Loyloy – however won the vice mayoral post. Both are sons of the former mayor of Isabela Mayor Boboy Biel who was assassinated last year.

Cherry took her oath last Friday after she was proclaimed, according to Basilan Provincial information chief Cris Puno.

Akbar and his first wife, Jum, who are aspiring for seats in Congress and governor of the province, respectively, are still contesting the election with big margins.

Akbar is facing former Sumisip Mayor Jim Hataman-Saliman in the congressional race while his wife – Jum – is slugging it out with  Rep. Gerry Salapuddin for the gubernatorial post.

However, Akbar’s third wife – Nur-in – failed her bid against incumbent Lamitan Mayor Roderick Furigay, who was already proclaimed winner.

Vindicated

Nueva Vizcaya Gov. Luisa Lloren-Cuaresma, who, four days before the elections was ordered by the Commsion on Elections (Comelec) to step down, won the governorship here, affirming her hold on the province’s highest post amid the controversy that marred her election in 2004.

Cuaresma, 53, was proclaimed governor at dawn yesterday after posting an overwhelming lead over her lone rival, outgoing Rep. Rodolfo Agbayani, in a way vindicating her of her alleged “questionable” victory in the 2004 elections against then board member Leonardo Byron Perez.

Perez, who died last January due to complications, was proclaimed by the poll body’s en banc last May 11, or three days before last Monday’s polls, as the duly elected governor in the 2004 elections’ ousting Cuaresma from the governorship.

Cuaresma’s legal counsels led by Romulo Macalintal, however, said that the en banc ruling is not yet final and executory as they could still appeal for a certiorari before the Supreme Court.

Unlike her nearly paper-thin margin of victory last 2004, which led to Perez’s filing of an election protest, Cuaresma surprisingly trounced the comebacking Agbayani by a margin of 21,965 votes, or 83,642 to 61,379.

“I feel vindicated this time around as the people have shown their belief in my leadership and in my priority programs for the benefit of the province,” Cuaresma said, who added that with a stronger mandate from the people, she will be able to push through her campaign agenda with greater ease.

Cuaresma’s team mate in the Nationalist Party-affiliated Partido Abante Nueva Vizcaya also won their bids with almost the same margins.

Former House Deputy Speaker and Minority Leader Carlos Padilla, also of Partido Abante Nueva Vizcaya, meanwhile, ensured his return to Congress where he had previously served as representative of the province’s lone congressional district for nearly 20 years, after he trounced former Comelec commissioner Ralph Lantion.

The 62-year-old Padilla defeated Lantion by a hefty margin of 38,712 or 89,140 to 50,428 in a nominally four-cornered fight with the other two candidates getting a total of 6,189 votes and 555 votes respectively.

In the vice gubernatorial race, incumbent Jose Gambito, also of Partido Abante Nueva Vizcaya, defeated his rival, former Bambang mayor and board member Reonel Saddul of the Lakas CMD by a vote of 83,958 votes as compared to 55,066 votes for Saddul, or a margin of 28,892.

Cuaresma, Padilla and Gambito, along with the winning members of the provincial board were officially proclaimed at dawn yesterday by the provincial board of canvassers led by lawyer Catherine Allas, provincial election officer-designate.

Proclaimed despite protests

Winners of the local political race in Baguio were proclaimed by the Comelec late afternoon Friday despite pre-proclamation protests pertaining to alleged poll fraud and other irregularities lodged against proclaimed  Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr., his KAMPI team mate Vice Mayor Daniel Farinas and Lakas-CMD congressman Mauricio Domogan.

For the mayoral race, Bautista  (KAMPI) got a 9,263 lead over his closest rival, acting vice mayor Leandro Yangot Jr. (LP) who got 17,647.  Former mayor Braulio Yaranon (GO) was third with 16, 148. 

The vice mayoral post was won with a slim 1,293 margin by Farinas over GO bet Faustino Olowan, a former councilor.  A far third is Roberto Ortega, a former police colonel, with 18,738 and Domogan’s team mate Edilberto Tenefrancia, also a former councilor, with 15,029.

Domogan garnered 47,488, with a lead of 9,623 over Genuine Opposition candidate Jose Molintas. Thomas Tayengco (KBL) got 521 while independent bet Ramon Kindipan had 465. 

The Baguio Board of Canvassers chaired by election officer Maribelle Uminga denied congressional candidate Molintas’ and mayoralty bet Labo’s petition to stop the proclamation because of alleged poll irregularities.

Molintas demanded that Domogan be disqualified and not be proclaimed because “during the last days (of the election) and hours before May 14, Domogan distributed and gave away money or other material considerations to influence, induce or corrupt the voters as public officials performing electoral functions in violation of Sec. 68 of the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines.”

During the four-day canvassing at the Baguio Convention Center, some BEI’s admitted to the BOC to being enrollees of Lakas-CMD insurance cards. Uminga explained the teachers did not know they were membership cards, only insurance cards. 

Molintas and his counsels then questioned the impartiality of the BEIs in conducting the elections because of this.

Molintas asked the local BOC to disqualify Domogan for violating election laws.  He pointed out the BOC cannot proclaim Domogan as representative of Baguio since he should be disqualified.

Mayoral bet Labo and his team mate Mascarenas also lodged a disqualification petition against Bautist Jr. and Farinas for alleged poll fraud as they alleged the proceedings before BEI are anomalous, considering that most of the BEI were promised benefits, specifically insurance.

Labo and his team mate likewise charged Bautista Jr. and Farinas of buying votes with promises of scholarships.

After more than an hour of discussions among the BOC, the petitions were denied.

Prosecutor Benedicto Carantes, BOC vice chairman, said they cannot disqualify the bets based on poll fraud charges.

Carantes said Molintas and other petitioners can bring their complaint to the Comelec.

The Comelec also proclaimed the winning councilors for the 12-member city legislature:  former councilor Rocky Balisong (Ind), Betty Lourdes Taband (KAMPI), Galo Weygan (Ind), Perlita Rondez (Ind), Nicasio Aliping (Lakas), Antonio Tabora (NP), Erdolfo Balajadia (Lakas), Nicasio Palaganas (Lakas), Isabelo Cosalan (GO), Richard Carino (Ind), Fred Bagbagen (GO) and newcomer Elaine Sembrano (GO), mother of TV broadcaster Bernadette.

Veterans and incumbents

Veteran and incumbent politicians dominated the polls in Mt. Province and Benguet.

The Provincial Board of Canvassers proclaimed incumbent governor Maximo Dalog winner with 27,418 over Bonifacio Lacwasan with 23,651 and Harry Dominguez with 10,738.

Lawyer Louis Claver Jr. won as vice governor with 35,209, a run-away from incumbent vice governor Benjamin Dominguez with only 22,287.

Marcos politician Victor Dominguez run away winner over his rival-nephew, Jupiter, in the congressional race in the Mt. Province with a margin of 1,621 votes. 

Mt. Province’s board members (District I) covering the towns of Bontoc, Barlig, Sadanga, Natonin and Paracelis are:  Eufemia Lamen (10,848 votes), Carino Tamang (8,873), re-electionists Ezra Gomez (8,63) and Luke Wanason(8,504). Mrs. Lamen is a substitute candidate for husband Alfredo Jr, who died of a stroke last April.

For District II covering the towns of Bauko, Besao, Sabangan, Sagada and Tadian, the four winners are James Polilin (15,599 votes), re-electionist  Marcial Lawilao Jr. (14,795), Randolph Awisan(14,572)  and Salvador Dalang(14,524).

Proclaimed mayors and vice mayors for the following towns, respectively, were: Magdalena Lupoyon and Edmundo Sidchayao in Barlig; Simon Lacwasan and Jose Tanggacan in Bauko; Wellington Pooten and David Ballang in Besao; Franklin Odsey and John Diaz in Bontoc; Donato Danglose and Avelino Tolean in Sabangan ; Estanislao Fagto and Francis Dangiwan in Sadanga; Eduardo Latawan Jr. and Jerry Ticag in Sagada; Ana Marie Banaag andJuan Henry For-og  in Natonin; and Constito Masweng and Febe Sally in Tadian. 

In Paracelis, re-electionist Mayor Cesar Rafael and only seven councilors were proclaimed. The municipal board of canvassers decided to defer the proclamation of Raul Lapon, the leading candidate for vice mayor and the No. 8 councilor pending the decision on the snatched ballot boxes that could have an effect on the current standing with the  little difference among the contenders.

In Benguet, La Trinidad Mayor Nestor Fongwan emerged as the next provincial governor while re-electionist Representative Samuel Dangwa defeated former congressman Ronald Cosalan.

The new set of Benguet officials were proclaimed last Friday.

Dangwa garnered a total of 66,710 against Cosalan’s 56,351 votes. Fongwan got a total of 55,802 votes while incumbent Gov. Borromeo Melchor got 46,758 votes.

Crescensio Pacalso remains as the vice governor with 65,590 as against Wasing Sacla’s 50,211 votes.

Re-electionists also dominated the 10–member board. In District I, No. 1 to 3 slots were captured by re-electionists Juan Nazaro,  Eddie Amuasen , Marciano Inso, while the No. 4 slot was taken by new comer Alfonso Fianza.  

In District II, Kapangan Mayor Rogelio Leon topped the race for board members, followed by new comer Nelson Dangwa, re-electionist Apolinario Camsol, followed by Nardo Cayat, a new comer, Johnny Uy also a re-electionist and Florence Tingbaoen, also a newcomer.

The winning mayors and vice-mayors of Benguet are: Atok, Concepcion Balao and Adam Bodong; Bakun, Marcelo Contada; Bokod, Mauricio Macay and Thomas Wales Jr.; Buguias, Felicio Bayacsan and Melchor Diclas;Kabayan, Faustino Aquisan and Rimando Aguitay; Kapangan, Roberto Canuto and Lauro Lorenzo; Kibungan, Benito Siadto and Susan Atayoc; Itogon, Mario Godio and Noel Ngolab; La Trinidad, Artemio Galwan and Samuel Esguerra; Mankayan, Manalo Galuten and Paterno Dacanay; Sablan, Bony Tacio and Julio Gayaman; Tuba, Florencio Bentrez and Valentino Carantes; Tublay, Ruben Paoad and Armando Lauro.

Mislaid ERs

Anxious moments gripped the canvassing on Friday night in Cabanatuan City after it was discovered that some election returns (ERs) from 49 precincts could not be accounted for. 

The canvassing of the election returns stopped at about 11 p.m. on Friday and a frantic search for the mislaid ERs went through the wee hours of the morning, until they were finally found filed with the canvassed ERs.

The city’s board of canvasser (CBC) eventually proclaimed Alvin Vergara and Marius “Jolly” Garcia, as the duly elected mayor and vice mayor, respectively, of this city at 9:30 Saturday morning.

The partial proclamation of the mayor and vice mayor posts was made by the CBC composed City Election Officer lawyer Harold Ramos, and members City Register of Deeds chief lawyer Fidel Ortaleza, and city Schools Division Superintendent Mrs. Tarcila Javier, five days after it had canvassed 107,000 votes cast in the city.

Vergara was credited with 53,445 votes against rival incumbent three-termer Gov. Tomas N. Joson III’s 42,368, posting a margin of 11,077 votes.  Jolly Garcia, vice-mayoral candidate, garnered 46,052 votes while his first cousin Ramon “Suka” Garcia got 38,182.

The city’s board of canvasser (CBC) later in the afternoon, proclaimed the new set of members of the Sangguniang Bayan: Gabriel Calling, Johnero Mercado, Ruben Ilagan, Jesus Diaz, Joselito Roque, Rosendo del Rosario, Cristina Wycoco Paulino, Angelito Saclolo Jr., Ariel Severino, and Froilan Valino.

The provincial canvassing board, chaired by Comelec provincial election supervisor lawyer Emmanuel Ignacio, had proclaimed: Eduardo Nonato “Edno” Joson in the 1st district and Joseph Violago, in the second district.

Meanwhile, partial and unofficial tabulation of the National Secretariat for Social Action-National Movement for Free Elections (NASSA-Namfrel)- Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) showed third district Rep. Aurelio Umali leading rival Vice Gov. Mariano Cristino Joson in the gubernatorial race.

With 98 percent of the votes cast in the 27 towns and five cities already tabulated as of 3 p.m. on Friday, the unofficial results thus far showed Umali earning 389,630 over Joson’s 288,463 votes or a vote margin of 101,167.

Except for the town of Quezon, hometown of the Josons, all other election returns throughout the province have been accounted for and entered into the tabulation machines of the NASSA-NAMFREL.

Puno brothers

Roberto “Robbie” Puno, younger brother of Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ronaldo Puno, was proclaimed congressman of the first district of Antipolo, along with provincial board member Arnel Camacho.

The older Puno brother used to hold that position before he was appointed to the Cabinet.  

Former Rep. Vic Sumulong, who used to represent Antipolo’s second district in the House of Representatives, was also proclaimed as the city’s new mayor.

Robbie Puno won handily in Antipolo, garnering at least 90 percent of the total votes cast for congressman in the city’s first district while the votes in Muntinlupa for another Puno, veteran broadcaster and columnist, Ricardo, are still being tallied.

Re-elected

Re-electionist mayor Cesar Perez handily won in the mayoral race in the internationally known “Science and Nature City” of Los Baños in Laguna.

Perez garnered 24,883 votes as against the 8,235 received by his closes rival and wedding godson, Councilor Norvin Tamisin. This will be Perez’ third term.

Partymate Procopio Alipon was also re-elected as vice-mayor. He defeated Councilor Geronimo Ciceron with more than a 5,000 lead.

The elected councilors are Josephine Sumangil Evangelista, Cesar Cabrera, Lourdes Principe, Leo Katimbang, Maria Luisa Wassmer, Vicente Quintana, Pastor Villanueva and Domingo Galang. – With Eva Visperas, Roel Pareno, Charlie Lagasca, Artemio Dumlao, Manny Galvez, Dave Pahilga, and Rudy Fernandez