Bichara re-elected as Albay governor

Albay Governor Al Francis Bichara was proclaimed as re-elected governor of Albay province on Thursday. Photo by Ma. April Mier-Manjares / Inquirer Southern Luzon

LEGAZPI CITY — Albay Governor Al Francis Bichara was proclaimed as re-elected governor of Albay province on Thursday.

Neil Canicula, acting provincial election supervisor said Bichara obtained 292,767 votes from three cities and 15 municipalities in Albay.

Bichara has served as governor since 1995 and in 2007, he was elected as third district Representative. He returned as governor in 2016.

Proclaimed as Vice Governor was Edcel Greco Lagman, son of re-elected first district Rep. Edcel Lagman, who got 360,013.

Representative Lagman garnered 101,486 votes while re-elected Rep. Joey Salceda of the second district got 187,252.

Third district Rep. Fernando Cabredo, who got 107,384 votes, replaced Rep. Fernando Gonzales. He served as a staff member of Gonzales since 1995.

First district board members were Reynaldo Bragais, who garnered 105,383 votes; Victor Ziga Jr. with 85,639; and Glenda Bongao, 80,651.

In the second district, Raul Rosal got 104,059; Neil Montallana had 70,278 votes and Melissa Armedilla with 100,266.

In the third district, Jesus Salceda Jr. obtained 136,983 votes; Dante Arandia got 110,086; Howard Imperial had 89,442 and Eva Josephine Ribaya got 104,074.

Canicula said the province recorded a 79.24-percent turn-out of votes from 840,500 registered voters. (Editor: Leti Boniol)