DOMINANT provincial party of United Negros Alliance (UNA) and Bacolod City's GoBingTha Team shared victory in Monday's elections during the proclamation of winners Wednesday.
Relatives, supporters and loyalists, along with the party mates, witnessed the proclamation. Board of Canvassers (BOC) chaired by Commission on Elections (Comelec) Supervisor lawyer Jessie Suarez proclaimed Governor-elect Alfredo Maranon of Sagay City and Vice Governor-elect Genaro Alvarez of the sixth district at Social Hall of the provincial Capitol building. Maranon and Alvarez of the United Negros Alliance (UNA) enjoyed a big margin of more than 100,000 votes over their respective opponents former Governor Rafael Coscolluela and Dr. Enrico Elumba, who is former mayor of La Castellana. UNA enjoys the majority win in the province, having only three mayors who do not belong to the party. Maranon said the dominance of UNA will be very beneficial to Negros Occidental because all six congressmen, 12 board members and 28 mayors belong to the party. He, however, said that he also expects cooperation from the three mayors because although they do not belong to UNA, they supported his candidacy. Maranon was referring to the newly elected Calatrava Mayor Araceli Somosa, Candoni Mayor Jechonias Manzano, and San Enrique mayor Mario Magno. He said although he did not have enough votes in La Carlota City, Bago City, Murcia and Talisay City, he still enjoyed the margin against his opponent. In La Carlota, Maranon said that some sugar planters operated on the area in favor of his opponent. In Bago, meanwhile, the UNA members have not extensively campaigned in the area for lack of time, Maranon said. He added that aside from the rich votes delivered by his hometown, he also got winning votes from San Carlos City and Escalante City. Maranon extended his hands of reconciliation to his opponents, saying "we have to forget about the past election and we should unite for the progress and development of Negros." He said he is thankful to God that the election was peaceful and orderly. Maranon also said he will reactivate Task Force Ilahas when he starts to function as governor. "We have to conserve whatever resources left to us especially the forest products and replant the areas that needed massive reforestation." Also proclaimed Wednesday were unopposed provincial board members Patrick Lacson and Frederick Manuel Ko of the third district. Lacson got the highest votes of 108,033, while Ko got 39,753. Re-elected fourth district Congressman Jeffrey Ferrer and his wife lawyer Juliet Marie Ferrer, mayor-elect of La Carlota City, were also proclaimed Wednesday along with Board Members Mae Javellana, who got 93,472; and Joben Alonso with 70,400 votes. Lawyer Ma. Mercedez Alvarez was also proclaimed as congresswoman of the sixth district. The newly-elected local and national officials will start their term on June 30. In Bacolod City, the Comelec proclaimed congressional candidate former Undersecretary Dr. Anthony Golez, incumbents Mayor Evelio Leonardia and Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, as well as 12 candidates for councilors as the official winners in the May 10 polls. Around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Comelec head Ryan Castro proclaimed Golez as the congressional winner with a total of 58,708 votes over his closest opponent lawyer Renecito Novero, who garnered 45, 083 votes. Leonardia, meanwhile, got 93,519 votes against Representative Monico Puentevella who garnered 86,258 votes. Sayson won as vice mayor with 87,429 votes against lawyer Ann Marie Pelermo with 61,616. Councilor El Cid Familiaran got 76,669 votes; Homer Bais - 75,669; Archie Baribar - 73,781; Roberto Rojas - 72,498; Catalino Alisbo - 69,361; Em Ang - 68,918; Dindo Ramos - 67,822; Elmer Sy - 64,918; Sonya Verdeflor - 64,877; Al Victor Espino - 61, 155; Ceasar Distrito - 61,016; and Carl Lopez - 60,057. Grupo Progreso led by Leonardia claimed a landslide victory for the group, as they dominated the election from congressman, mayor, vice mayor and majority of the councilors. Leonardia said it's a first time in the political history of Bacolod that a landslide victory of a team was registered, first time for a city mayor to be elected for three consecutive terms, and first time that the vice mayor got re-elected. "It's a historic moment, I believe that all the years of my political life, I've survived and triumphed because of the will of the people and that's why I owe them so much, and the only way that I can repay them is to give my best, as this is my last term as the city mayor of Bacolod," he said. He noted that the landslide victory of their party was overwhelming, "and it's hard to express it since we survived all the trials and issues that were thrown against the Grupo Progreso." Leonardia said they are now mandated by the will of the people to deliver the service for the people of Bacolod, noting that they have now their own respective responsibilities to the people of Bacolod. "I will maximize my efforts not only here with our local funds and resources, but I will try my best to secure the assistance, funding and cooperation from other agencies and international governments, and even in tapping international assistance for the City of Bacolod," he said. Leonardia also lauded the presence of his political opponent Vladimir Gonzalez, who earlier conceded. Sayson also lauded the support of the people of Bacolod for giving him another chance to serve the City of Bacolod. He added that he felt sad for the loss of his colleagues. Meanwhile, Golez expressed surprise when he was proclaimed as the new congressman of Bacolod. "I've to make sure that all the opposing factors should be settled, we have to accept that there's should be a winner," he said. Golez said the people of Bacolod should put an end the political war. "I'm offering my services and myself in order to heal those wounds." Golez claimed that Grupo Progreso won more than 95 percent of the entire barangays of Bacolod. He said the landslide victory would mean more progress and development for the City of Bacolod and for its constituents. Golez also said that on his first day of duty in congress, he would file a bill for the re-districting of Bacolod into two districts, and a bill that would grant all the Filipinos PhilHealth cards and will modernize the Provincial Hospital.(GMD/TED/MAP)
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