Incumbents lead province race

CEBU, Philippines - Reelectionists Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez, Jr. maintain a comfortable leads over their respective opponents as of last night with only two more towns and one component city have yet to submit the election returns.

Garcia is leading by more than 100,000 votes against her closest rival Hilario “Junjun” Davide III. Sanchez on the other hand is said to be ahead by more than 50,000 votes against Glen Anthony Soco.

As of 9:09 p.m. a total of 33 municipalities and four component cities have submitted their election returns to the Provincial Board of Canvassers, comprising 92.30 percent of the total election returns from the 44 towns and seven component cities in the province.

Based on the partial official Comelec tally, Garcia leads over Hilario “Junjun” Davide by 116,695 votes with her 591,214 votes compared to the 474,519 votes of her rival.

There are 1.9 million registered voters in the province but only 1.071 million actually voted during last Monday’s election.

Garcia won in two out of four component cities and 25 out of the 33 towns canvassed so far.

These are the cities of Danao and Toledo and the towns of Alcantara, Alcoy, Aloguinsan,Asturias, Balamban, Boljoon, Borbon, Carmen, Catmon, Cordova, Oslob,Pilar, Ronda, Poro, Samboan, Sogod, Tabuelan, Bantayan, Santander,Badian, Dalaguete, Dumanjug, Madridejos and San Francisco in Camotes.

Garcia enjoyed the biggest lead of 18,983 votes in Danao City.

On the other hand Davide won in Argao, his home town, Consolacion, Daanbantayan, Ginatilan, Malabuyoc, Minglanilla, Moalboal, San Fernando and San Remigio.

He also won in the cities of Naga, Talisay, Carcar and Bogo.

In Davides’ hometown, Garcia only got 7,425 votes against 23,916 votes of Davide or a difference of 16,491 votes.

Expectedly Davide also by 5,738 votes in Dumanjug, Garcia’s hometown.

In the vice gubernatorial race, Sanchez won in 19 towns and in the cities of Naga and Talisay. Soco on the other hand won in 14 towns and in the city of Carcar.

Of the 19 towns that Sanchez won, he gained the biggest lead of 16,987 votes in Talisay.

As of last night, there was no formal announcement yet in the vice gubernatorial race with regards to their actual number of votes. But unofficial tally made by the members of the media shows that Sanchez is also leading against Soco by over 50,000 votes.

In the First District of Cebu, incumbent Rep. Eduardo Gullas also lead the congressional race with 209,208 votes.

Reelectionist Congressman Pablo Garcia in the second district is likely to remain in his seat with 108,793 votes against the 60,177 votes of his closest rival Coralou Kintanar.

Returning congressional candidate Antonio Yapha in the third district got 79,604 votes while incumbent district Rep. Pablo John Garcia is likely to reclaim his post with 127,730 votes.

Fourth District Rep. Benhur Salimbangon got 137,324 votes against rival former Bogo City Mayor Celestino “Tining” Martinez III with only 66,165 votes.

In the fifth district, Rep. Ramon “Red: Durano VI is also likely to be declared winner.

In the Sixth district, former PB member Luigi Quisumbing is leading with 45,192 votes against Ariston Cortes who got 10,402 votes and Atty. Victor Biano who only got 5,504 votes. – Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon with reports from Lesley Caminade and Johanna Mae Eborda/FPL (THE FREEMAN)