BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN / CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
More elected officials in Negros Occidental were proclaimed by the Commission on Election, a day after the May 9 polls.
However, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer are expected to be proclaimed today.
Lacson garnered 933,572 votes, compared to 57,701 votes of John Orola.
Ferrer, on the other hand, got 816,938 votes compared to the 70,374 of his challenger, Jonry Gargarita, Comelec records show.
Third District Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez, unopposed Second District congressional aspirant Alfredo Marañon III and former Vice Gov. Dino Yulo, who had won the Fifth District congressional race, were proclaimed yesterday by the Provincial Board of Canvassers (PBoC) at the Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawigan session hall in Bacolod City.
Also proclaimed as newly-elected board members by PBoC were reelectionist SP members Andrew Montelibano, Samson Mirhan, Sixto Pal Guanzon and Rita Gatuslao, and Anton Occeño.
Proclaimed by the Comelec in the respective towns and cities were EB Magalona Mayor Marvin Malacon, Ilog Mayor Paul Alvarez, La Castellana Mayor Rhumyla Mangilimutan, Isabela Mayor Irene Montilla, Murcia Mayor Gerry Rojas;
Moises Padilla Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo, Binalbagan Mayor Alejandro Mirasol, Javier Miguel “Javi” Benitez – Victorias City, Ray Ruiz – Candoni, Joedith Gallego – Silay City, Lorenzo “Enzo” Suatengco – Pulupandan.
Also winning the elections, despite being locked up in jail, were Moises Padilla Vice Mayor Ian Villaflor and Councilor Vincent Garcia.*GPB
BACOLOD CITY
Team Asenso led by re-electionist Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya and mayor-elect Albee Benitez together with their eight winning councilors dominated the May 9 elections in Bacolod City.
They were proclaimed yesterday by the Comelec at the Bacolod City Government Center canvassing area at about 9:04 a.m., along with the winning candidates of Grupo Progreso composed of re-electionist Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, Councilors Cindy Rojas and Israel Salanga, and returning councilor Em Ang. Councilor Renecito Novero arrived after the proclamation. All five GP candidates were frontliners in the fight against COVID-19.
Final and official results of the Comelec showed Gasataya garnering 185,470 votes against his closest rival, GP congressional candidate Dan Atayde who got 80,591 votes, or a lead of 105,121 votes.
Congressional candidates Nonoy San Miguel got 850 votes, Romy Gustilo – 738 votes and Willy David – 618 votes.
Benitez won over incumbent Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia of GP with a lead of 64,446 votes. He garnered 171,893 votes against Leonardia who got 107,447 votes.
Familiaran garnered 128,893 votes against Team Asenso vice mayoralty candidate Caesar Distrito, who got 103,236 votes and independent vice mayoralty candidate and incumbent Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr. who got 32,033 votes.
Gasataya and Familiaran will be serving their third and final terms.
The 12 winning candidates for councilor are Jude Thaddeus Sayson who garnered 134,635 votes; Israel Salanga – 123,237 votes; Cindy Rojas – 122,629 votes; Em Ang – 116,953 votes; Al Victor Espino -115,197 votes; Valdi Gonzales – 113,145 votes; Jason Villarosa – 111,027 votes; Kalaw Puentevella – 108,950 votes; Simple Distrito – 107,030 votes; Celia Flor – 103,768 votes and Pao Sy – 98,978 votes.
Incumbent Councilors Archie Baribar landed on the 13th place with 94,445 votes; followed by Councilor Bart Orola with 94,230 votes; Homer Bais – 94,030 votes; Councilor Dindo Ramos – 94,026; Patrick Lacson – 91,261; Sonya Verdeflor – 87,873; Councilor Carl Lopez – 83,226 and Marlon Solidum – 81,793.*
