Comelec proclaims Dumaguete’s local officials

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday proclaimed the winners for the elective positions in Dumaguete City.

For the mayoral race, independent candidate lawyer Felipe Antonio “Ipe” Remollo emerged as the winner with 29,518 votes against his close rival incumbent Vice Mayor Woodrow Maquiling Sr. of  the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) who earned 27,132 votes.

Also a winner in Monday’s polls is incumbent Councilor Franklin Esmeña Jr. of  the NPC, who lead the vice mayoral race with 28,499. He won over incumbent Councilor Antonio Remollo of the Liberal Party (LP) with 24,824 votes.

Meanwhile, LP dominated the race among councilor aspirants. The ten councilors elected to the Sangguniang Panglungsod are: Alan Gel Cordova (LP), 32,740 votes; Karissa Tolentino (LP), 32,409; Agustin Perdices (LP), 29,195; Eslao Alviola (Ind) 29,039; JV Imbo (NPC), 28,001; Joe Kenneth Arbas (LP), 27,522; Lani Ramon (LP), 27,004; Michael Bandal (LP), 24,586; Manny Arbon (LP), 24,500; and Chaco Sagarbarria (NPC), 22,797.

Dumaguete’s winning candidates were proclaimed by acting election officer of Dumaguete, Andre Villasis around 1 a.m., Tuesday.

Villasis said although Dumaguete’s capital Negros Oriental encountered minor problems, mostly with vote-counting machines, the May 9 elections in the province was fairly peaceful. — Rosette Adel