Incumbent Calabarzon govs trouncing rivals

MANILA, Philippines - Despite leading by a huge margin of votes against their opponents, the five incumbent governors in the Calabarzon region had yet to be proclaimed winners by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as of press time yesterday.

Juanito Icarro, Comelec-Region 4-A director, said the poll body yesterday allowed the early proclamation of local candidates with a huge margin of votes over their opponents, provided the remaining uncounted votes would no longer affect the final results of the elections.

Icarro told The STAR that the Comelec, through Resolution 9700, allowed the local board of canvassers to proclaim candidates from governors to councilors.

This new rule, according to Icarro, was expected to speed up the proclamation of winners in local positions.

Incumbent Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla (Lakas) was leading by more than 50,000 votes over Liberal Party candidate Ayong Maliksi, whose son Emmanuel was proclaimed yesterday as Imus City mayor after beating Homer Saquilayan.

Remulla’s lead over Maliksi was seen in 64.7 percent of the Cavite election returns.

Laguna Gov. Jeorge Estregan Ejercito was expected to win by a landslide against Rep. Edgar San Luis of Team PNoy. He was leading by more than 50,000 votes for the 74.22 percent of the provincial election returns as of press time.

In Batangas, Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto (Liberty Party) was reported to have won by a landslide over Marcos Mandanas Sr. in 75.02 percent of the votes canvassed.

Incumbent Quezon Gov. David Suarez was leading by 30,000 votes over Irwin Alcala  (LP) in 67.20 percent of the Quezon election returns.

In Rizal, Nini Ynarez (Nationalist People’s Coalition) led by a huge margin against Steve Salonga.

Most of the incumbent mayors in Laguna, including Biñan, Sta. Rosa City, Cabuyao and San Pedro, were leading by a huge margin over their rivals.

Meanwhile, the Calabarzon police and the military described Monday’s elections in the region as generally peaceful and orderly, despite the arrest of several people, including six agents of the National Bureau of Investigation in Bacoor City, Cavite for allegedly violating the gun ban.

Chief Superintendent Benito Estipona, Calabarzon police director, said fewer violent incidents were recorded in Cavite and Batangas, which were both tagged as election hotspots.

Estipona said the six NBI agents arrested near the house of Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. in Bacoor City were charged with illegal possession of firearms and were released after posting bail.

Revilla has accused the police of harassing his supporters.

Also in Cavite, two persons were arrested and three were wounded in a police operation in Bagong Pook, San Antonio. – With Michelle Zoleta