Transmission woes persist, delay tallies
TECHNICAL PROBLEMS Vote counting machines (VCM) at the polling stations in Agoo, La Union province, encountered technical problems, including overheating, in Monday’s elections. The machines were cooled down using electric fans. RICHARD BALONGLONG/INQUIRER NORTHERN LUZON
BAGUIO CITY—More winning candidates in central and northern Luzon were proclaimed on Tuesday night and Wednesday, but glitches in the transmission of official results had delayed their completion.
Transmission problems due to defective data storage cards or malfunctioning vote counting machines plagued the Cordillera region and the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Pampanga, Cagayan and Nueva Ecija.
In Cagayan, technicians realized that the database they were using had not been emptied, so results of three towns there turned out to be from the mock elections held on Feb. 28 when the machines were tested.
All winning candidates in 17 towns and a city in Tarlac province were officially declared winners, including three congressional representatives: Charlie Cojuangco (first district), Victor Yap (second district)and Noel Villanueva (third district).
The Tarlac board of canvassers (BOC) also proclaimed Governor-elect Susan Yap, Vice Governor Carlito David and members of the provincial board.
Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan
In Bulacan province, the BOC on Tuesday night proclaimed Gov. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado and Vice Gov. Daniel Fernando, as well as Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado, the governor’s son, who won as representative of the first district; Gavini Pancho (second district); Lorna Silverio (third district); and Lynabelle Villarica (fourth district).
In Nueva Ecija, Rossana Vergara, wife of Cabanatuan City Mayor Julius Cesar Vergara, was proclaimed new representative of the third district. Also proclaimed were former Vice Gov. Edward Thomas Joson and Jojo Matias as new provincial board members.
In Pangasinan province, the BOC on Wednesday proclaimed Board Member Amado Espino III, son of Gov. Amado Espino Jr., as governor-elect, despite the absence of certificates of canvass (COC) from the towns of San Fabian and Aguilar.
Joel Gines, provincial election supervisor, said votes from San Fabian (46,269 voters) and Aguilar (23,791 voters) were not enough to offset Espino’s lead over his opponent, former Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco.
The BOC also proclaimed the elder Espino as elected representative of the fifth district. He defeated Cojuangco’s wife, reelectionist Rep. Kimi Cojuangco.
Also proclaimed were reelected Reps. Jesus Celeste (first district), Leopoldo Bataoil (second district), Rose Marie Arenas (third district) and Marlyn Primicias Agabas (sixth district).
It also proclaimed Christopher de Venecia as elected representative of the fourth district. He is the son of former Speaker Jose de Venecia and outgoing Rep. Gina de Venecia.
7 women mayors
Seven women mayors in Pangasinan also won in their reelection bids: Heidee Chua (Asingan), Gwen Yamamoto (Bani), Josefina Castañeda (Lingayen), Bona Parayno (Mangaldan), Rebecca Saldivar (San Nicolas), Susan Casareno (Rosales) and Belen Fernandez (Dagupan City).
In Ilocos Sur, the Singsons remained the province’s political kingpins. The BOC proclaimed reelectionist Gov. Ryan Luis Singson and Board Member Jeremias Singson as the new vice governor. Also proclaimed were reelected Rep. Eric Singson and Ilocos Sur Vice Gov. Deogracias Victor Savellano, who was elected representative of the first district.
In Ilocos Norte, the proclamation of some winning candidates has been delayed but the municipal BOC has proclaimed 21 new mayors.
Also proclaimed were unopposed reelectionist Gov. Imee Marcos, her youngest son, Matthew Joseph Manotoc, as provincial board member, and former First Lady and reelectionist Rep. Imelda Marcos of the second district. Reports from Armand Galang, Anselmo Roque, Tonette Orejas, Greg Refraccion, Carmela Reyes-Estrope and Jo Clemente, Inquirer Central Luzon, and Gabriel Cardinoza, Melvin Gascon, Leoncio Balbin Jr., Inquirer Northern Luzon
