Congresswoman is new Samar gov

TACLOBAN CITY — Despite her conviction on graft charges, Samar Rep. Milagrosa Tan was elected governor of the province after she defeated a former military intelligence officer.

Tan got 211,764 votes while her rival, Emil Zosa, who was once the head of the intelligence and operations division of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, had 204,118 votes.

Last March, the anti-graft court convicted Tan over the P16.1 million anomalous procurement of emergency supplies back in 2001. The case is under appeal.

In his Facebook post, Zosa conceded defeat to Tan who is returning as governor after serving three terms as congresswoman of Samar’s second district.

Tan will switch positions with her daughter, Gov. Sharee Ann Tan, who won the congressional race.

The younger Tan received 124,459 votes, higher by 27,223 votes against her rival, Christopher Bolastig who was once connected with the Bureau of Customs.

Elected vice governor of the province is Reynolds Michael Tan, son of the Governor-elect Tan, who garnered 214,511 votes.

The vice governor-elect defeated Jesus Redaja, a former vice governor who received 167,566 votes.

Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento was reelected representative for Samar’s first district.

Sarmiento, who secured his second term, won by 11,018 votes against outgoing Vice Gov. Stephen James Tan.

(Editor: Leti Z. Boniol)