Singson’s 2 sons dominate Ilocos Sur polls

VIGAN CITY, Philippines – Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson’s charisma and winning power refuses to wane in the northern province where he has lorded it for more than four decades now.

Singson’s sons Ryan and Ronald won by big margins as newly elected governor and first district congressman, respectively, in last Monday’s elections.

Ryan, an incumbent first district congressman, walloped his rival Liberal Party (LP) gubernatorial bet Roque Verzosa, garnering 176,514 votes against his opponent’s 86,287 votes with results from only two towns remaining to be canvassed as of press time yesterday.

Ronald obtained 66,121 votes while his opponent, lawyer Trandy Baterina (LP), got 33,514 when the provincial board of canvassers suspended canvassing while waiting for election returns from the towns of Sinait and Magsingal to arrive.

In the second district congressional race, Chavit’s cousin former House deputy speaker Eric Singson junked his erstwhile foe Henry Capela of Aksyon Demokratiko with 120,045 votes against Capela’s 20,074.

Re-electionist Vice Gov. Deogracias Victor Savellano, Ryan’s father-in-law, emerged sure of the vice governorship as he posted 156,911 votes while LP bet Efren Rafanan, a former provincial board member, had 92,819 votes.

They were to be proclaimed yesterday with the winning board members all from the Singson-led Bileg-NP ticket.

They are Christian Purisima, Ismael Baterina, Jerry Singson, Constante Oandasan and Edgar Yabes in the first district, and Anika Zaragoza, Joselle Gironella, Robert Tudayan, Jaime Singson and Pablito Sanidad Jr. in the second district. – With Jun Elias