PEOPLE are talking about...
* WHETHER TOMAS CONCEDED. He did admit defeat without being categorical. The usual conciliatory and congratulatory words were missing, deliberately left out. It was apparently not written before delivery. The video recording was impromptu, reportedly a tryout before deciding on its release. "Victory" and "congratulations" were omitted.
* HOW AHONG CHAN BEAT THE ODDS. Most formidably threatening was the widespread talk, not contradicted until five days or so before election day, that Comelec had disqualified him. He was even ruled out as a serious contender in favor of the other Boy Radaza rival for Lapu-Lapu City mayor, Rolando Patalinjug.
As independent bets
While Toledo City Mayor John "Sonny" Osmeña was buried in the fight over Cebu's third district House seat, his candidates are surviving in that city's election, at least as of 6:44 p.m. in the Halalan 2019 tally of Wednesday (May 15) with 95.05 percent of election returns.
Like Sonny, who ran for congressman and lost, the Osmeña boys and girls ran as independents. Some people, including a broadcaster, wondered how independents could be doing so well against party-supported rivals.
Zoie Perales leads with 33,339 over Dydee Zambo of PDP-Laban, 32,604. And Jake Sigue, also an independent, beat up Antonio Yapha Jr. of NPC: 41,900 against 29,072. Yapha is Sonny's vice mayor, an erstwhile ally whom Osmeña thought would run against him had he not stuck to Toledo.
At least seven independents, presumably Sonny's, are in the top 12 spots.
All that indicates Osmeña might have been reelected as mayor had he chosen to run for reelection as Toledo City mayor. Perales's votes are presumably Sonny's or obtained with the mayor's help.
By the way, the delay in getting the city's election returns is raising suspicions. A city is expected to do better than most towns of the province, in technology and work force.
And how did Sonny fare against winner Pablo John Garcia in Toledo City? Sonny won over PJ, 36,008 against 27,2018, or about 9,000 votes. Geraldine Yapha polled 11,688, which could've improved Sonny's chances had they coalesced.
And Gwen Garcia won over Agnes Magpale, 40,972 to 28,097, which meant the mayor helped little, if he did, for the vice governor.
P.S. Cebu's Serge Osmeña, a relative of the mayor, ranked only #5 in the senators' race in the city, next only to Bong Go, Bato dela Rosa and three others.
Measly lead in votes
In Danao City, Nito Durano mauled Eleanore Duterte, supported by the president and his daughter Sara: 41,767 against 22,883. Bakud, the Duranos' party, swept the vice mayor's race and grabbed the top 10 councilors' posts, with only #11 and #12 left for One Cebu and PDP-Laban.
But here's the odd thing: in the fight for the House seat, Red Durano got only 32,476 and his rival, the winner, got 31,177, barely about 1,200 plus votes. And Magpale got only 32,118 over Gwen's 27,918 or only about 5,000 votes.
Clearly, the much-touted ability of the Duranos to make up with the hometown votes their losses in other towns did not work.
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