The Martinezes are crossing their fingers that Celestino “ Tining “ Martinez III will still win his congressional bid in the family-held fourth district, even by a slight margin, and are therefore not conceding.
Instead they are even considering the filing of a petition to declare a failure of election in the district owing to what they say had been rampant rampant vote-buying and other alleged irregularities.
Outgoing fourth district Rep. Clavel Martinez, who is giving way to her son Tining, the outgoing mayor of the family bailiwick of Bogo, yesterday said they are not conceding even if Tining’s rival, Benhur Salimbangon, appears to be leading in the early counts.
“ We are crossing our fingers that Tining will still win, but with a slight margin, “ said Clavel, whose own bid for vice governor of Cebu province also appears to be in jeopardy.
The fourth district has long been the stronghold of the Martinezes, starting with the three consecutive terms of Clavel’s husband Celestino Jr., who is now running for mayor of Bogo to replace Tining. After Celestino Jr. bowed out as congressman, Clavel took his place and also served three full terms.
But as of 5 p.m. yesterday, early results of the canvassing from several towns in the district showed Salimbangon enjoying a very lead of 13, 647 votes as against that of Tining with 13,186.
The canvassing of election returns from Bogo has not yet started owing to its projected transfer to the Capitol to ease tensions there.
The canvassing at the Capitol of the Bogo votes was supposedly to start yesterday morning but neither the chairman nor vice chairman showed up.
Salimbangon wants the board replaced while the Martinezes are amenable to changing only the chairman but not the members.
In a press conference she called at the Baseline Restaurant, Clavel lamented that so many votes have been declared as stray, votes that she said she knew would have gone to Tining.
“ Tining Martinez has so many stray votes. They know that Bogo will always deliver a good majority for Tining Martinez. They are thinking that whatever results will come out will offset whatever gains Salimbangon has made, “ Clavel said.
Salimbangon, a former provincial board member, once ran against Clavel in 1998 but lost.
There are nine municipalities in the fourth district, with Bogo, San Remegio, Santa Fe, Tabuelan and Tabogon considered as the strongholds of the Martinezes. The rest, Madridejos, Bantayan, Medellin and Daanbantayan are expected to deliver a victory for Salimbangon.
Given the slimness of the lead in the early going enjoyed by Salimbangon, Clavel said it is too early for him to celebrate.
She said during her time as a congresswoman, it was usually easy for her to gain a majority of somewhere like 115,000.
Clavel said a petition to declare a failure of election is being considered by their camp, alleging that money and goons flooded the towns of Daanbantayan, Madridejos and Tabuelan.
Clavel said she does not mind losing the vice gubernatorial race as long as the election is fair.
“ To concede, not yet, because we are figuring out of what’s happening in this election. If there is fair play, I will concede. If there is no fair play, I will not concede, “ Clavel said.
Salimbangon himself earlier considered asking the Comelec to declare a failure of election but has since changed his mind, apparently because of the transfer of the canvassing venue to the Capitol.
Salimbangon has already declared victory, saying even without the results from Bogo, he would still win by an estimated 12,000 votes.
In Daanbantayan, Sun Shimura and his mother Maria Luisa Loot were declared winners as mayor and vice mayor, respectively. ( Garry Lao, Gregg Rubio/JST )