Actor loses anew in mayoral bid

LUCENA CITY — It was bad luck twice in a row for actor Gary Estrada, nephew of jailed former President Joseph Estrada, who lost anew in the mayoral race in San Antonio, Quezon.

But Gary is not yet giving up the fight as he intends to file a formal complaint with the Commission on Elections (Comelec), alleging that he was cheated in the polls.

He lost to re-electionist Mayor Ariel Wagan who posted a 600-vote margin.

According to I-watch, a community paper in Quezon, supporters of both camps trooped to the San Antonio town hall at the height of the canvassing to air their respective grievances.

Carrying placards, Gary’s supporters demanded that the counting be stopped, alleging that votes for the actor-turned-politician were being shaved off.

Gary’s camp claimed discrepancies in the election. For instance, according to I-report, they alleged that the number "3" became "8" and "2" became "9" in favor of Wagan.

Lawyers Teofante Sy and Marvin Mesa, Gary’s legal counsels, filed a protest with the municipal board of canvassers and the local Comelec office.

But the local poll office reportedly insisted that they had to finish the counting before attending to any protest, I-report said.

But Wagan, a former vice mayor who succeeded former San Antonio mayor Miguel Pillerba in the 2001 polls, is confident that he won the election, garnering a total of 5,264 votes.

Gary lost to Pillerba in the 2001 mayoral race.

"Dapat na tanggapin ni Gary ang pagkatalo niya upang hindi na magkaroon pa ng gulo (Gary should accept defeat so there won’t be any trouble)," Wagan was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, incumbent Gov. Wilfredo Enverga won his third and last term over Serafin Dator and Frouncesio Pulgar.

Enverga’s vice gubernatorial running mate, David Suarez, also won, defeating Jovito Talabong and Adelyn Enverga.

Quezon’s congressional winners were Raphael Nantes (first district), Proceso Alcala (second), Danilo Suarez (third) and Lorenzo Tañada III (fourth).