From the Centerwith Rolly Espina
It’s all over but the shouting. That’s insofar as the presidential and vice presidential races are concerned. The proclamation of the Senator Benigno Aquino III as president will have to wait for the congressional canvass. This remains unscheduled with the close race between Jejomar Binay and Senator Mar Roxas still in the balance. Aquino remains confident that Roxas may still overhaul the slim lead of Binay when the former’s returns from his bailiwicks in the Visayas and Mindanao will pour into the Comelec receiving center. In short, that is a still an unscheduled event. But in the provincial level, Sagay City Mayor Alfredo Marañon Jr. and his running mate Rep. Genaro Alvarez were poised to be proclaimed yesterday at the provincial capitol by the provincial Comelec supervisor. Their proclamation pends the arrival of the returns form Sagay City and Cauayan in Southern Negros. However, both had already been alerted on the possibility as their lead over former Governor Lito Coscolluela ballooned to 140,000 votes as of Tuesday night. The two remaining areas are UNA bailiwicks. But, after all the tensions that marked the delayed proclamation of the winners in Bacolod, reelectionist City Mayor Evelio Leonardia and his running-mate Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson were proclaimed winners with Anthony Golez as elected congressman for Bacolod. Monopal had five of their councilors also proclaimed with El Cid Familiaran, the topnotcher among the council bets. But the talk of the town yesterday was the win by reelectionist Silay City Mayor Jose “Oti” Montelibano by 10 votes over rival Carlo Gamban. Montelibano’s running mate Mark Golez was also proclaimed winner. Montelibano’s spectacular win edged Talisay City Mayor Eric Saratan from the main topic of conversation despite the fact that his win was considered something like that of the dragon slayer. Saratan rode roughshod over Rep. Jose Carlos Lacson, the previously acknowledged Talisay City kingpin. But for me, the most dramatic win was that of Agustin Ernesto Bascon who won over former Secretary Antonio Gatuslao, his uncle, by a marina of almost 5,000 votes. His own mother, former Mayor Carminia Bascon also handily won as his vice mayor. Still, I also felt the loss of Cicero Borromeo of the mayorship of Candoni town in the South. Borromeo had suffered a stroke last year but still opted to run. In San Carlos City, Gerardo Valmayor ran unopposed with his vice mayor Edgardo Quisumbing. But, before I forget about them, my kudos to Rep. Ignacio Arroyo 5th district Jeffrey Ferrer, fourth, Julio Ledesma IV, first, Alfredo Marañon III, second; and Mercedes Alvarez, sixth district. Of course, the closely watched win was that of Albee Benitez for the third district which he handily won by garnering 116,772 votes against that of former Murcia Mayor Esteban Coscolluela, who prompted off with 40,602 and Ted Jimezes with 30,325. Among the provincial board members were Emilio Yulo, Melvin Ibanez, Jerry Yulo, Edy delos Reyes, Darwin Destacamento, (fifth) and Pedro Zayco and Helen Zafra, and Romulo del Rio for the sixth district. The other elected mayors included Ramon Torres and Nicolas Yulo for Bago City; Mayor Alejandro Mirasol, Binalbagan; Patrick Escalante and Samson Mirhan for mayor and vice mayor of Cadiz City. Araceli Somosoa, won as mayor for Calatrava with Virgilio Tan as vice mayor. In Candoni, Jechonias Manzano romped off with the mayoralty race together with Diomedes Magada as his vice mayor. In Cauayan, it was John Rey Tabujara. David Albert Lacson, and Reynaldo Depasucat won as mayor and vice mayor of E.B. Magalona. Hermilo Aguilar won in Hinigaran with Jose Nadie Arceo as his running mate. In Hinobaan, Ma. Teresa Bilbao won and Mary Jane Cubig, her vice mayor. In Ilog, it was John Paul Alvarez with Nelson Genito as his vic.e Isabela was on by Francisco Malabor with Omar Gayarare as his vice. Of course, former Governor Isidro Zayco womped off with the mayorhsip of Kabankalan City. His vice mayor is Delia Anacan. La Carlota’s mayor was virtually unopposed – Juliet Ferrer with David Baga as vice mayor. In La Castellana, Alberto Nicor, Jr. won as mayor and Felix Eria IV as vice mayor. In Manapla, Lourdes Escalante romped off with the mayoralty race against Edilberto Vocal, and also carried with her Edgar Paganoynan as vice mayor. Moises Padilla saw Francisco Nazareno with Cipriano Emo as vice mayor. In Murcia, Andrew Montelibano beat Judith Coscolluela. But Victor Gerado Rojas won the vice mayoralty race. Of course, in Pontevedra Jose Maria Alonso recaptured the mayorship with Larry Parroco as his vice mayor. Pulupandan saw Magdaleno Peña (virtually unopposed) as victor and Antonio Suatengco as vice mayor. In Sipalay City, Oscar Montilla, Jr. handily beat back the challenge by Oakwood mutineer Gary Alejano. Running-mate Maria Gina Lizares also won. In Toboso, it was Evello Valencia, Jr. with Edliberto Sayat as vice mayor. Manuel Yogore won over Ricardo Presbitero with Gloria Gomez as vice mayor. In San Enrique, Mario Magno won as mayor. Elections, however, are just a competition for the voters’ endorsement. The more important is that all of us should now devote ourselves to helping the victors comply with their promise of good governance and transparency. For the loser, no sense carrying on a running feud with the victors.* Visayan Daily Star
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