Contreras proclaimed governor-elect of Capiz

ILOILO CITY – Capiz Vice Gov. Esteban Evan “Nonoy” Contreras was proclaimed governor-elect of the province after he defeated Gov. Antonio del Rosario and two other candidates.

Contreras, a former Liberal Party (LP) member who ran as independent, got 161,475 votes while Del Rosario, his closest rival, got 143,809 votes.

Also proclaimed as vice governor-elect was James Magbanua.

Del Rosario, LP provincial chair and a staunch ally of former Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, accepted his defeat.

“Thank you for the opportunity to have served Roxas City and Capiz. Thank you for the 47 years of public service. Thank you for all the love, care and support,” he said in a Facebook post.

Del Rosario had served as mayor of Roxas City for three terms, as representative of the province’s first congressional district for three terms before becoming governor in 2016.