CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) proclaimed former Board member Lilia “Baby” Pineda as governor-elect of Pampanga and outgoing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as representative of the province’s second district.
This, during Wednesday’s conclusion of the provincial canvassing at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center here.
“There is much to be done in Pampanga and we plan to start with social services to the poor as soon as we are in office,” Pineda told Sun.Star Pampanga in an exclusive interview.
Provincial Elections Supervisor Temmie Lambino also proclaimed the winning congresspersons, governor, vice governor, and provincial board members.
Proclaimed on Wednesday were Board Members Ricardo Yabut and Nestor Tolentino (fourth district), Monina Laus, Trina Dizon and Rolly Macalino (third district), Edna David, Terry Lingad and Salvador Dimson (second district) and Tarcicio Halili and Crisostomo Garbo (first district).
Incumbent Vice Governor Joseller “Yeng” Guiao also received fresh mandate after making a massive win over rival Marco Lazatin of the Liberal Party.
In the congressional race, it is still Representative Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin for the first district; Representative Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales, Jr. for the third district; and Representative Anna York Bondoc-Sagum for the fourth district.
Miserable defeat for LP
LP standard bearers took the province by huge votes, however, local candidates fared poor even resulting to the defeat of major LP tickets.
Senator Benigno Aquino III of LP won the presidential race with 327,666 votes as against administration presidential bet Gilberto Teodoro Jr.'s 290,462.
Senator Manuel Roxas II of LP won in the vice presidential race with 413,016 votes.
However, LP succumbed to defeat in the gubernatorial and congressional seats with only the popular Mayor Oscar Rodriguez of the City of San Fernando retaining his post as city mayor.
Voter turnout in Pampanga has been surprisingly high despite reports of disenfranchisement and people not voting due to the long lines and waiting hour in the process of voting.
Out of the 1 million plus registered voters, voter turnout is placed at 900, 000.