Marcoses, Singsons win big in Ilocos Region polls

By Freddie G. Lazaro

The family of dead dictator Ferdinand Marcos enjoyed easy wins in Philippine elections, official data showed Tuesday, with his unrepentant 83-year-old wife leading the clan’s political charge.

Imelda Marcos captured more than 88 percent of the votes cast on Monday to win a second consecutive term in the nation’s lower house representing the family’s northern provincial stronghold, according to the official tally.

Aides said they expected Imelda Marcos to be proclaimed the winner on Tuesday.

Her daughter, Imee, was elected unopposed in the mid-term elections for a second term as governor of the province, Ilocos Norte.

Imelda Marcos’s main rival, local lawyer Ferdinand Ignacio, conceded the race after capturing about 10 percent of the vote.

“I will congratulate her. There’s no point in sour-graping at this point. This is the essence of democracy,” Ignacio told AFP.

Imee Marcos’s cousin, Angelo Barba, completed a family sweep as the uncontested candidate for provincial vice governor, according to the Commission on Elections’ website.

Meanwhile, the late dictator’s son and namesake, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., is half way through a six-year term in the Senate and is widely expected to run for president in 2016.

Like the Marcoses, the Singsons are dominating the high elective political positions in Ilocos Sur with wide margins in the poll count against their rivals.

As of 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, partial official reports of on canvassing of votes showed that Nationalista Party gubernatorial bet Ryan Luis Singson with 176, 514 votes against the 86,287 votes for Liberal Party candidate Roque Versoza Jr.

In the congressional race, returning Congressman Ronald V. Singson garnered 66,121 votes while his archrival, lawyer Bertrand Baterina, had 33, 514 votes in the 1st District.

In the second district, returning House Deputy Speaker Eric D. Singson earned 124, 351 votes as compared to the 20,998 votes of his rival, lawyer Henry Capela.

Meanwhile, already proclaimed Tuesday morning were newly-elected Candon Ciy Mayor Ericson Singson and City Vice Mayor Alfonso Singson.

In Vigan City, Mayor Eva Marie Singson Medina won unopposed.