Abad fails in Batanes; Garin wins in Iloilo

MANILA, Philippines — Former budget secretary Florencio Abad appeared to have failed in his bid to reclaim his congressional seat in the lone district of Batanes.

Another Aquino Cabinet member, Janette Garin, will replace her husband Richard as representative of Iloilo’s first district. The canvassing board proclaimed her yesterday.

Garin, a former congresswoman, won despite facing charges in connection with the Dengvaxia scandal.

Based on complete but unofficial results, Abad lost to Ciriaco Gato Jr. in a tight race.

Gato, a medical doctor, received 3,367 votes against the former budget chief’s 3,129, or a slim margin of 238.

A third candidate, Carlo Diasnes, was credited with 3,032 votes.

Abad’s wife Henedina represented Batanes until she died in October 2017 due to cancer.

In Pangasinan, former governor and incumbent fifth district Rep. Amado Espino Jr. lost his reelection bid to Binalonan Mayor Ramon Guico lll. Espino’s son Amado won a second term, while another son, Jumel, won as second district representative.

Incumbents Rosemarie Arenas and Christopher de Venecia were reelected third and fourth district representatives, respectively.

In Eastern Samar, Maria Fe Abunda, a sister of television host Boy Abunda, won as representative of the province’s lone congressional district. She defeated suspended mayor Sheen Gonzales of Guiuan town.

Abunda ran with outgoing congressman and incoming Gov. Ben Evardone under PDP-Laban. Evardone defeated his former ally and incumbent Gov. Marcelo Ferdinand Picardal by more than 31,000 votes.

In Bohol, the canvassing board has proclaimed outgoing Rep. Art Yap as the newly elected governor.

Yap narrowly beat former Cabinet secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr.