Only Place In Region 11; Still no declared winners in Davao City

DAVAO CITY — It appears that Davao City remains to be the only place in Southern Mindanao (Region 11) where the Commission on Elections (Comelec) still has to officially proclaim winners of the May 14 local polls.

Regional Comelec director Lirio Joquiño said all the other cities, towns and provinces in the region already have their duly elected officials proclaimed.

"I hope (Davao City) will be able to do it soon," he said.

Davao City has at least 570,000 registered voters but only 80 percent reportedly cast their votes last May 14.

The city board of canvassers, as of yesterday, still had to canvass election returns from at least 20 precincts.

The National Movement for Free Elections ended its unofficial quick count last weekend with first district Rep. Rodrigo Duterte leading with 194,732 votes over incumbent Mayor Benjamin de Guzman’s 165,037.

The Comelec canvassing in Davao City was reportedly delayed for at least two days due to the late arrival of election returns to the Sangguniang Panlungsod building where the canvassing was being held.

Confusion on the distribution of the statement of votes and the failure of election officers to properly arrange the pertinent documents also added to the delay.