Canvassing almost complete

ELECTIONS results in Baguio City showed that the oldies are back, at least for the next three years.

Unofficial partial results from the loose coalition, Timpuyog sa Baguio (TTB), showed the three: Engineer Bernardo Vergara (for congressman), Rep. Mauricio Domogan (for mayor) and Vice Mayor Daniel Fariñas are leading in the local elections.

The lackluster performance of the current officials in addressing pressing problems of the city is mainly seen as the reason why the ‘oldies, but goodies’ appear to be on top of their opponents for positions in the city government.

Vergara’s impending re-election came after a six year hiatus. He was defeated first by then Mayor Braulio Yaranon then incumbent Reinaldo Bautista Jr.

His closest rival, it partially appears, is incumbent Councilor Rocky Thomas Balisong.

Vergara is unofficially leading with 17,403 votes, followed by Rocky Thomas Balisong with 10,313 as of this posting.

Vergara was a three time congressman for Baguio from 1992 to 2001. After sliding down to become the city’s chief executive from 2001 to 2004, he lost to former judge Braulio Yaranon in the 2004 elections.

A legal quarrel with Jadewell Parking System is widely believed to be the downfall of Yaranon when he ran for re-election in the 2007 against Vergara and Bautista. Bautista eventually won the mayorship.

The general feeling this elections is that Bautista, failed to be a true father figure for Baguio. A failure which even Domogan used to the hilt.

Bautista refused re-election as Baguio’s mayor. He instead chose to run for a seat in the House of Representatives, which Domogan was mandated to vacate after three terms.

Domogan, meanwhile, still appears to be in a voting tussle with both independent candidate Marques Go and Liberal Party standard bearer Jose Molintas.

As of 11:40 p.m., the Timpuyog headquarters has canvassed 59.8 percent out of the 221 clustered precincts of Baguio.

As of 10 Monday night, Domogan earned 28,543 votes while his closest rival, Jose Molintas had 17,045.

Domogan, considered by many to be the man to beat for any position in city governance. His so-called clean governance of Baguio as its mayor from 1992 (when he inherited the mayorship by virtue of the disqualification of former mayor Ramon ‘Jun’ Labo Jr. because of citizenship issues), makes him one of the more respectable politicians in Baguio politics.

But Domogan faced some opposition in apparent second placer lawyer Jose Molintas, a Liberal Party stalwart.

Molintas, could have made political hay from the candidacy and charisma of leading, as of 11 p.m. Monday, presidential wannabe Noynoy Aquino.

But internal questions in the local LP together with doubts on his personal habits, appears to make him a two-time bridesmaid.

Molintas tried for the sole congressional office of Baguio the last time around, also against Domogan. He also lost that fight against Domogan.

Meanwhile, incumbent Vice Mayor Farinas will continue with his third term and last term. He earned, 34,423 while closest rival Faustino Olowan got 19,494.

As of press time, The TTB is still tabulating the results for councilor.

As of 10 p.m. Monday night, the Comelec-Baguio has only received results from 150 clustered precincts. The total number of clustered precincts is 221.

It was expected, the proclamation of official winners by the Comelec would be done at around 1 a.m.

Although many hoped the official winners would have been known last night, problems in the early transmission of official results from the clustered precincts have not happened.

But the unofficial results from TTB appears to be the trend which will be sustained until the last precinct transmission is made. (Rimaliza Opiña with Sam Bautista)

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