Majority of Benguet officials retain posts

By Susan Aro

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Majority of incumbent officials in the province and municipalities retained their posts  in the May 13 elections.

Rep. Ronald Cosalan was re-elected garnering a total of 85,534 votes over his opponent Crescencio Pacalso who had 65,620 while Renan Munar had 582 votes.

For the gubernatorial post, it was a landslide victory for re-electionist Nestor Fongwan with a total vote of 108,950 against Jerome Selmo who had 34,994 votes.

Nelson Dangwa topped the vice gubernatorial post with 72,546 votes.

His opponents, Juan Nazarro Jr    got 35,596 votes while Apolinario Camsol had 34,313 votes.

Both are lawyers.

Elected board members for District 1 covering the towns of Bokod, Itogon, Kabayan, Sablan, and Tuba  are  re-electionists Johnny Waguis(  26,128 votes), Alfonso Fianza(20,598 votes) and Benjamin Saguid(19,841 votes). The only newcomer is   Esteban Piok(25,558 votes).

For District 2 board members covering the municipalities of Atok, Bakun, Buguias, Kapangan, Kibungan, Mankayan, Tublay and this  capital town  are  re-electionists Concepcion Balao (50,152 votes), Florence Tingbaoen(49,051), and  Nardo Cayat(39,141).  New comers  who are all from this capital town are Jack Dulnuan(40,617 votes) Robert Namoro(31,683) and Jim Botiwey(31,640).

At the municipal level, five of incumbent mayors were unopposed namely Bokod Mayor Mauricio Macay, Kabayan Mayor Faustino Aquisan, Kibungan Mayor Benito Siadto, Sablan Mayor Arthur Baldo, and Tublay Mayor Ruben Paoad.

On the other hand, re-elected mayors  were  incumbent mayors Peter Alos of Atok, Melchor Diclas of Buguias, Roberto Canuto of Kapangan, Materno Luspian of Mankayan, and Florencio Bentrez of Tuba. 

Comebacking Edna Tabanda won mayoralty  race in   La Trinidad.

The towns of Itogon and Bakun have new mayors -- lawyer Victorio Palangdan and Faustino Lambinio, respectively.

For the vice mayoralty post, this town’s incumbent  Vice Mayor Romeo Salda run unopposed.

Five incumbent vice mayors were given fresh mandates: Marson Lay-at of Atok, Ireneo Calwag  of Buguias, Aureina Sacpa of  Kibungan, , Clarita Sal-ongan of Tuba,  and Armando Lauro of Tublay.

Newly elected vice mayors were Edwin Bandao of Bakun, Thomas Wales Jr. of Bokod, Adriano Carantes Jr. of Itogon,  Gideon Todiano of Kabayan, Manny Fermin of Atok, Dario Banario of Mankayan, and Manuel Munar Jr of Sablan.