CABANATUAN CITY , Philippines – A week after the elections, re-electionist Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali and his running mate, Gay Padiernos, were finally proclaimed winners, with the former extending a hand of reconciliation to the Josons whose half-century reign at the provincial capitol he ended with his 2007 victory.
Umali of the Lakas-Kampi and Unang Sigaw Partido ng Pagbabago was declared winner by the provincial board of canvassers led by lawyer Fernando Cot-om, provincial election supervisor, after garnering 527,852 votes (61.72 percent) against the 315,641 votes (37.62 percent) of his rival, outgoing Vice Gov. Edward Thomas Joson of the Bagong Lakas ng Nueva Ecija, or a margin of 202,211.
Padiernos also emerged victorious, mustering 458,454 votes (56.8 percent) to beat Joson’s running mate, outgoing board member movie actor Rommel Padilla who got 341,199 votes (42.28 percent).
Eight allies of the Umali-Padiernos tandem in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan also won, led by the governor’s younger brother Emmanuel Antonio who topped the voting among the seven candidates in the third congressional district with 112,382 votes (31.53 percent).
Umali appealed to the Josons to help him steer the province. “Help me out. Let’s help each other out,” he said, addressing his appeal to Edward Thomas and the entire Joson clan.
It was Umali’s third consecutive victory against a Joson, and the second against Edward Thomas whom he trounced in the 2001 congressional race.
Umali also defeated Edward Thomas’ uncle, then vice governor Mariano Cristino, in the 2007 gubernatorial race.
Also proclaimed board members-elect were Estellita Suansing, Eduardo Rey Joson, Belinda Palilio, Johnero Mercado, Joseph Ortiz, Edgardo Agliam, Napoleon Interior, Romanito Juatco and Teresita Patiag.
Of the nine, only two – Joson and Juatco – were from the Balane party and the rest from Umali’s party, which effectively wrested control of the provincial board which used to be dominated by Joson allies.
Of the board members-elect, only Ortiz, Juatco and Patiag are re-electionists.