Elected Pangasinan Gov. Ramon Guico III (right) and reelected Vice Gov. Mark Lambino are proclaimed winners in Pangasinan. (Photo by Willie Lomibao)
LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN––The provincial board of canvassers on Wednesday morning (May 11) proclaimed Governor-elect Ramon Guico III and Vice Governor-elect Mark Lambino.
Guico, the fifth district Pangasinan representative, garnered 885,272 votes, defeating Gov. Amado Espino III by a margin of 187,465 votes.
Lambino got 877,948 votes, beating Provincial Board Member Nikiboy Reyes by a margin of 327, 221 votes.
Guico’s win is considered “phenomenal” as he defeated Espino, who was running for his third term.
Espino III’s father, Amado Jr., was a three-term governor.
The API (Abante Pangasinan Ilokano) Party, to which the Espinos belong, questioned the discrepancy in the votes for the governor and vice-governor.
At a press conference on Monday, API Party Secretary-General Nelson Gayo said the total number of votes for governor was 1,577,797, while for vice governor, the total number of aggregate votes was 1,1123,676.
He said the discrepancy could be because of irregularities, as the API is planning to file election protests against the winners.