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Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Custodio leads Pacquiao in Namfrel quick count
GENERAL SANTOS CITY (Updated 3 p.m.) -- Boxing icon Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao on Tuesday appeared headed for a stunning upset in the political arena.
Based on the partial and unofficial count of election watchdog National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel), the boxing champ is trailing behind reelectionist Representative Darlene Antonino-Custodio in the congressional race for the first district of South Cotabato.
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As of 8 a.m., 12.25 percent of the votes have been tabulated by Namfrel and results are heavily tilted in favor of Custodio. It represents 179 precincts of the total 1,461 precincts in this city.
Results from the other towns in the first district like Polomolok, Tupi and Tampakan have yet to be included.
Custodio tallied 8,851 votes while only 4,730 voted for Pacquiao. The other contender, Teodolo Garay, a perennial candidate, mustered only 79 votes.
The local Commission on Elections (Comelec) here has yet to tabulate the election returns due to questions fielded by lawyers from both sides.
Father Angel Buenavides, spokesperson of the Diocese of Marbel, said the Namfrel quick count for the first district is expected to be finished Tuesday.
"We have monitored, as usual, voters' disenfranchisement. Vote buying? It has been around even before the start of the campaign period," he told reporters.
In Sarangani province and this city, barangay chiefs were promised development projects in the amount of P2 million by a political party should its candidates will be voted straight in the village, the priest said.
Buenavides noted the political maturity of voters, especially in the national level, citing the poor showing of actors Richard Gomez and Cesar Montano in the partial and unofficial Namfrel count held at the Notre Dame of Dadiangas University.
"It appears, based on initial results, that popularity is not anymore a factor to win," he stressed.
Also citing the trend, Buenavides said results showed a strong anti-Arroyo sentiment in the locality.
"At the most, three TU (Team Unity) candidates can enter the Magic 12 in the city," Buenavides said.
Genuine Opposition senatorial bet Antonio Trillanes, detained on rebellion charges, is making a surprise showing here with his inclusion in the Magic 12, as well as independent candidate Gregorio Honasan, a former senator out on bail also for rebellion charges.
The other GO candidates on good landings were Loren Legarda, Manuel Villar, Francis Escudero, Allan Peter Cayetano, Panfilo Lacson and Aquilino Pimentel III.
Independent candidate Francis Pangilinan is also favored by the voters here.
In South Cotabato, the provincial Namfrel is expecting to begin their quick count Thursday evening, since the results from the municipalities are still being tabulated by volunteers.
Meanwhile, unidentified men lobbed a grenade Monday night at an electric substation in Ligtas Subdivision, Barangay Cannery in Polomolok town, apparently to disrupt counting in the locality, said Senior Supt. Robert Kiunisala.
"The explosion damaged the post but did not interrupt electricity," he said.
In Koronadal, power was interrupted for about 20 minutes after a power station in Barangay Matulas became "overloaded," the police official said. (Sun.Star General Santos)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cebu. (May 15, 2007 issue)
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