MAGALANG, Pampanga -- Meat processing firm owner and former town mayor Romulo “Romy” Pecson regained his post as local chief executive after winning by 27 votes against incumbent Mayor Malu Lacson.

Pecson was proclaimed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) officials at 2 a.m. Friday after the four-day delay in counting of votes caused by corrupted secure digital (SD) cards in vote counting machines (VCMs) from 21 clustered precincts all over the municipality.

In the final count of the Comelec, Pecson got 27,166 votes while Lacson earned 27,139.

Pecson, who is the official candidate of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), thanked his supporters and the people of Magalang.

He vowed to continue his programs on infrastructure, peace and order, health, livelihood and employment, tourism, and environmental protection.

Lacson, for her part, also thanked her supporters and her constituents in general.

The outgoing mayor said despite losing the mayoralty race, her camp and supporters respect the decision of the people and remain calm.

“We can accept whatever the decision, we may be unfortunate for not winning but life doesn’t end in political defeat. At least I can say that I made a difference in Magalang,” Lacson said.

During the four-day counting period, tension gripped the town after supporters of both camps held a vigil in front of the municipal hall where the election office is located.

But Maria Rosario Lalic assured the people that there was no election fraud and the same time ensured the sanctity and integrity of the votes.

Other elected officials are Norman Lacson (Kambilan Party), vice mayor; Koko Gonzales (PFP), Joel Cruz (PFP), Popoy Miranda (Kambilan), Eller Pecson (PFP), Nelson Dizon (Kambilan), Rodolfo Gonzales (Kambilan), Tisoy Zemel (PFP), and Carding David (Kambilan), councilors.