8 admin-backed Senate bets emerge in Pampanga’s partial, unofficial tally 

Source: https://validate.ppcrv.org/graph/

MANILA, Philippines — Eight senatorial candidates that emerged in the top 12 in Pampanga’s elections were backed by the Duterte administration, according to the 8:34 a.m. partial and unofficial tally of the poll watchdog Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) on Thursday.

Garnering an initial 743,026 votes, actor-turned-politician Lito Lapid is poised to lead the Senate race in Pampanga, which is also his home province.

Source: https://validate.ppcrv.org/graph/

Pampanga is also the stronghold of known Duterte ally and outgoing House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who initiated and joined campaigns for the senatorial bets of Davao Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio’s Hugpong ng Pagbabago and President Rodrigo Duterte’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan.

READ: How did bets in Senate Magic 12 do in their hometowns?

Based on PPCRV’s unofficial and partial tally, administration-backed and reelectionist Sen. Cynthia Villar got the second highest spot with 690,031 votes.

The 11th vote-rich province in the country also gave its third-highest vote to independent candidate and reelectionist Sen. Grace Poe, followed by Duterte-backed contenders former Sen. Pia Cayetano, former presidential aide Bong Go, former Philippine National Police and Bureau of Corrections chief Ronald dela Rosa, and reelectionist Sen. Sonny Angara.

Former actor and senator Ramon Revilla Jr., also from Hugpong slate, got the 8th spot in the province. He was followed closely by administration-backed and outgoing Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, reelectionist Sen. Nancy Binay, as well as Duterte-allied and former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chair Francis Tolentino. 

Among the eight-man Otso Diretso opposition slate, only reelectionist Sen. Bam Aquino cracked into Pampanga’s winning circle and made it to the 12th spot. PDP-Laban stalwart and reelectionist Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III ranked 13th.

As of writing, 97.36 percent or 85,561 out of 87,851 local and overseas clustered precincts have successfully transmitted their ERs, according to PPCRV-Inquirer’s Transparency Server.

PPCRV, Commission on Election’s (Comelec) accredited citizen’s arm, is mandated to conduct voter’s education, poll-watching, as well as parallel and unofficial counting of votes.

Meanwhile, Comelec, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers, continues to hold its separate partial and official tally which is currently at 53.29 percent. (Editor: Jonathan P. Vicente)