Political dynasties dominate elections

VIGAN CITY -- Poll winners in the Ilocos Region for top posts in the May 14 elections were bared by the Commission on Elections and quick counts done by private groups.

The Commission on Elections proclaimed May 16 the winners in the election for governor, congressmen, vice governor, and members of the provincial board in Ilocos Sur.

Lawyer Joel Gines, Ilocos Sur provincial Comelec supervisor, proclaimed Deogracias Victor “DV” B. Savellano as the newly elected governor of Ilocos Sur.

Savellano beat his closest rival, Efren “Rambo” Rafanan, with a slim margin of votes.
Gines also proclaimed winner in the May 14 polls reelectionist second district Rep. Eric D. SIngson, and Ronald Singson as winner in the congressional race in the first district.

Incumbent Provincial Board Member Jeremias SIngson, brother of Team Unity senatorial bet Luis “Chavit” Singson, was proclaimed newly elected vice governor.

The newly elected members of the provincial board are Ismael Baterina, Azucena Purisima, Ronni Rapanut, Orlino Tesoro, and Gerardo Lahoz, first district; and Zuriel Zaragoza, Robert Tudayan, Rosario Geronilla, Jose Bonoan Jr. and Peter Manzano, second district of the province.
Outgoing Ilocos Sur Gov. Chavit SIngson described the gubernatorial race as “tight contest.”

It was the first time this happened in the history of elections in the province.

In the final tally of votes prepared by the provincial board of canvassers, Savellano garnered 132,656 votes, compared to the 131,264 votes for Rafanan or a difference of 1,392 votes.
In Candon City , reelectionist Mayor Allen G. Singson was proclaimed by the Comelec as winner.
Incumbent City Vice Mayor Nestor Itchon ran unopposed.

In Vigan City , Eva Marie SIngson Medina, wife of incumbent Mayor Ferdinand C. Medina, also ran unopposed in the mayoralty contest.

Incumbent City Vice Mayor Fras Ranchez was also elected.

In Pangasinan
Dagupan City Kabalikat ng mga Mamamayang Pilipino (Kampi) bet Amado Espino Jr. posted a margin of 38,343 votes over his closest rival, Lakas-CMD candidate Jamie Agbayani, wife of outgoing Gov. Victor Agbayani, in the gubernatorial contest.

In his bailiwick in Pangasinan’s second district where he served as two-term congressman, Espino drubbed Agbayani, garnering 88,413 vote as against his rival’s 41,954 votes.
It was only in the province’s first district where Agbayani kept a slim lead over Espino.
In the fourth, fifth and sixth districts, Espino posted a consistent lead of some 25 percent and a recorded total of 340,764 votes.

In San Carlos City, former Customs deputy commissioner and congressional candidate Gallant D. Soriano claimed on Wednesday victory in the elections for congressman in the third district of Pangasinan, but appealed to the Commission on Elections and the public of to remain vigilant and guard the results of last Monday’s elections.

“I thank the voters for giving me the mandate to become their new congressman,” Soriano said.

As of 9 a.m. on Wednesday, partial and unofficial tally of elections returns from the district’s five towns and one city by the Pangasinan Provincial Election Monitoring and Assistance Center based at the Provincial Capitol in Lingayen showed that Soriano garnered 23, 21, 054 votes: Rachel Arenas, 19, 952; and Bayambang Mayor Leocadio de Vera, 4, 821.

In Laoag City
Ilocos Norte gubernatorial candidate Michael Keon, cousin of Governor Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., was leading his rival, former Congressman Rodolfo Farinas, in the poll count.

Unofficial PPCRV quick count partial results of May 15 showed Keon garnered 32,063 vote, while Farinas got 17, 493.

Bongbong, unopposed congressional bet in the province’s second district, had 10,521 votes, and unopposed reelectionist Vice Gov. Windell Chua got 39,134.

Congressional bet in the first district Reynolan Sales went ahead with slim margin of 153,463 votes over reelectionist Rep. Roque Ablan Jr. who had 15,131.

Also leading candidates were Bongbong’s two others cousins reelectionist provincial board members Mariano Marcos II and Angelo Barba.

In the mayoralty race, reelectionist Laoag Mayor Michael Farinas posted a big lead of 9,626 votes over former Police General Rowland Albano’s 3,492.

In La Union
The Ortegas dominated the polls getting the congressional and gubernatorial posts and most of the provincial board seats including the mayorship of San Fernando City .

In Tarlac
TARLAC CITY – Victor Yap has widened his lead in the gubernatorial race in Tarlac with more than 19,715 votes compared to the votes garnered by Jose “Peping” Cojuangco.

Yap dominated the 2nd district, while Cojuangco continued to gain votes in the first district. The young Yap also garnered the most number of votes in the 3rd district comprising the towns of Bamban, Capas, Concepcion and La Paz .

The partial and unofficial results left Cojuangco with very little chance to gain the lead.

In the congressional race in the second district, Tarlac Gov. Jose “Aliping” Yap had gained ground with 16,150 votes. His closest rivalo is former board member Dr. Mina Tabamo.

Congressional Gilbert Teodoro’s wife and former model Nikki Teodoro ran virtually unopposed in the 1st district in the congressional derby with 91,004 votes. – With reports from Freddie Lazaro, Orly Guirao, Jerry Padilla and George Trillo