Annabelle uses wrong pen, Mike votes with ex-wife

Congressional candidate Annabelle Rama of Cebu city’s north district  used the wrong pen and almost got her ballot invalidated.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama showed up in his precinct in barangay Guadalupe with his former wife Araceli and son Mikel.

Yesterday’s voting in Cebu City had candidates closely followed by the media who spotted several surprises.

Mayor Rama and his rival  Cebu CIty Rep. Tomas Osmeña arrived with their  families 30 minutes apart past 7 a.m. to cast their ballots at the Guadalupe Elementary School.

Rama, wearing a large crucifix on his neck, was with his son Mikel and former wife Araceli Francisco to vote in room 5. They waited in line  for two hours before  casting their ballot.

Osmeña was with his wife, Councilor Margot Osmeña, sister Maria Victoria and son Miguel and voted in room 18.

Express lane

The Osmeñas, both in their 60s,  used the  express lane for senior citizens, and took 30 minutes to vote except for Miguel, who had to use the regular lane.

Congressman  Osmeña complained about the lack of seats for senior citizens.

Raul del Mar, Liberal party candidate for the north congressional district,  and his daughter Rep. Cutie del Mar arrived at the Lahug Elementary School at 8:15 a.m.

Raul chatted with seniors and pregnant women at the express lane before voting.

In barangay Camputhaw, Annabelle Rama arrived with her own blue pen and sample ballot at 9:45 a.m.

“Only the people can decide whom to vote for. All is well,” she said with husband Eddie Gutierrez and son Richard in tow.

“I just wish the votes in my favor will be counted,” she said in Cebuano.

Anabelle used her own  blue sign pen to shade the ovals in her ballot in  precinct 137-A.Rather than wait in line,  they went straight to the precinct. One of the watchers saw Annabelle using a blue pen and called an election staffer to give her an Comelec  black marker instead.

She was halfway done, and redid her answers with the official black pen.  Anabelle’s ballot  was accepted by the PCOS machine. She and her family left the precinct with scores of voters screaming for her son Richard.

She was expected to arrive at 8:30 a.m but she waited for her children to arrive first.

The rest of her family waited inside the van to avoid causing a commotion.

In south Cebu province, gubernatorial candidate Pablo John Garcia  of the Liberal Party voted with his wife Karen in barangay Balao, Barili town.

His sister, suspended Gov. and congressional candidate Gwen Garcia cast her vote in in Lamac Elementary School, in barangay Mayana, also in Barili town.

Toledo City mayoral candidate and former senator John “Sonny” Osmeña voted in barangay Balo, Toledo City, western Cebu.

In Danao City, LP vice gubernatorial bet Agnes Magpale joined senior citizens at the express lane to cast her vote.

“The voting is easy,” said a smiling Magpale  who showed her finger stained with indelible ink.

Her relatives the Duranos voted in Guinsay Elementary School.

In Mandaue City, Mayor Jonas Cortes was alone when he cast his vote in Cabancalan elementary school in precinct 263-B at 9 a.m.Cortes voted in City Central School in the 2010 elections.

After voting, Cortes told reporters that his horse gave birth again on  Easter Sunday and he named the filly Sunday.

“Every election my horses give birth and I consider them my lucky charm,” he said.

Sunday’s siblings Lord and Spirit were born during the 2007 and 2010 elections.

Before voting, Cortes visited the graves of his parents. He headed to the St. Joseph’s National Shrine afterwards.

His rival Victor Biaño voted in the Banilad elementary school two hours earlier.

Rep. Luis Gabriel Quisumbing of Cebu’s 6th district  voted with his family in Bakilid Elementary School, Mandaue city  at 8 a.m.

His predecessor and current rival Nerissa Soon-Ruiz voted in City Central School

In Cordova town, Mayor Adelino Sitoy voted in Gabi Elementary school. In Lapu-Lapu City, the Radazas voted in the Mactan Elementary School at 2 p.m.

Mayor Paz Radaza is seeking reelection while daughter Aileen is running in place of her father Arturo Radaza, who will undergo rehabilitation for his ailing knee.

The elder Radaza’s mayoral rival  Efrain Pelaez of the Liberal Party and his family voted at the Punta Engaño Elementary School at 1:30 p.m. Correspondents  Jose Santino Bunachita, Michelle Joy L.  Padayhag, Fe Marie Dumaboc and Peter Romanillos and  UP Cebu Intern Apple Ta-as