LP bets post landslide wins in Visayas areas

CEBU, Philippines - Candidates of Liberal Party's Team PNoy in Iloilo City, Bohol and Leyte provinces have swept all elective posts in the May 13 midterm elections.

In Iloilo City, Reelectionists Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog and Rep. Jerry Treñas got a fresh mandate after defeating their opponents, businessman Rommel Ynion and former Rep. Raul Gonzalez, Jr., respectively by a wide margin of around 60,000 votes. Incumbent Vice Mayor Joe III Espinosa also triumphed over his opponent, Councilor Jeffrey Ganzon.

Ynion conceded defeat early on. “Let me be the first to congratulate my opponent, Mayor Mabilog for winning in the elections. The people have spoken and we should respect their collective will,” he said.

In his Facebook page, Mabilog thanked “everyone who supported us and made the choice in giving us the chance to be of service for our fellow Ilonggos and our beloved City of Iloilo.”

For Iloilo gubernatorial race, reelectionist Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. (LP) won over Ferjinel Biron of UNA, while LP's Boboy Tupas edged UNA's Rolex Suplico for the vice-gubernatorial post.

In the congressional contest, only Jun Biron of UNA was able to nip the LP blitzkrieg by winning the 4th district seat against Niel Tupas Sr. Other LP winners were Richard Garin for the 1st district, Arcadio Gorriceta (2nd district), and re-electionists Arthur Defensor Jr (3rd dist.) and Niel Tupas Jr (5th dist.).

Proclamation of winning candidates in Iloilo was held yesterday afternoon.

In Bohol province, the LP bets also made a sweep from senatorial down to the local level. Unofficial results, as of 3:30 p.m. yesterday with 77 percent of the election returns canvassed, showed re-electionists Governor Edgar Chatto routing UNA's Carmen town Mayor Conchita delos Reyes, and Vice Gov. Concepcion Lim busting NPC's Sharlene Corral-Lim's 90,383.

In the congressional race, the only LP winner was reelectionist Rep. Rene Relampagos (1st district), who won over Dan Neri-Lim of the NPC. The NPC winning bets were, for the 2nd district, Aristotle Aumentado against LP's Roberto Cajes and for the 3rd district, the uncontested reelectionist Rep. Arthur Yap.

In Tagbilaran City, partial unofficial tally showed National Unity Party's mayoralty bet John Yap having a slim lead over LP's Dodong Gonzaga, but his runningmate Mariquit Oppus trailed a small margin against LP's Toto Veloso.

In Leyte province, it was a rout for LP bets against their respective opponents, with Dominic Petilla making a walkover, being unopposed, for the gubernatorial post, and runningmate Carlo Loreto edging out Eduardo Polistico and Bebot Tan.

Other LP winners for the congressional seats were reelectionists Reps. Sergio Apostol (2nd dist), Andres Salvacion Jr. (3rd dist), Lucy Torres-Gomez (4th dist) and Jose Carlos “Boying” Cari (5th dist). The only non-LP winner was the un-opposed reelectionist Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (1st dist) of Lakas Party.

In Baybay City, LP's re-electionist Mayor Carmen Cari defeated UNA's Malot Galenzoga, and runningmate-son Michael Cari won over UNA's Al Relevo. All LP bets for the City Council also made a 10-0 sweep.

In Ormoc City, the LP bets were not however that much lucky. Lucy's husband Richard Gomez lost to independent bet Edward “Ondo” Codilla for the mayoralty, but runningmate Leo Carmelo “Toto” Locsin Jr won over Dennis Capuyan.

In neighboring Kananga town, Lucy's brother Matt Torres failed in his bid against reelectionist Mayor Elmer Codilla.

Down south of Leyte province was however a full victory for the LP, with Bentong Villahermosa upsetting UNA's re-electionist Mayor Jose Emery Roble of Hilongos town and runningmate Manuel Gabisan winning over Luz Zapata of Bagumbayan Party.

The LP had no mayoralty bet for mayor in Tacloban City. Mayor Alfred Romualdez of the Nacionalista Party got a 3rd mandate against An Waray party-list Rep. Bembem Noel, while independent bet Councilor Jerry “Sambo” Yaokasin won over reelectionist Vice Mayor Arvin Antoni of the LP.

In Northern Samar, the LP got a beating, with Paul Daza losing to NUP's Jun Ong for governor, Antonio Lucero losing to NUP's Gary Lavin for vice governor, veteran Raul Daza against NP's Harlin Abayon, for the 1st congressional district seat, and Ram Uy against NUP's Emil Ong for the 2nd district.  (FREEMAN)