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Dismissed Pasay City Mayor Wenceslao “Peewee” Trinidad regained his post after he was proclaimed the winner early morning yesterday at the Cuneta Astrodome, where the canvassing of votes was held for almost a week.

The Board of Canvassers (BOC) had difficulty going through their task since Trinidad’s opponents made appeals for the canvassing to be suspended, citing cases of fraud and vote-buying in a number of barangays.     

Trinidad, who was dismissed from office last February for having approved alleged anomalous garbage collection and disposal contracts, garnered 72,446 votes. He was ahead by 6,002 votes over outgoing Rep. Connie Dy, who only got 66,444 despite an endorsement by the Iglesia Ni Cristo.

His running mate, Antonino Calixto, earned 77,280 votes while congressional bet Jose Antonio Roxas had 49,902 votes. The latter’s rival, Allan Panaligan only had 48,134 votes.

Meanwhile, majority of the candidates for city council under Trinidad’s ticket, the United Opposition-Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (UNO-LDP), won.

Elected councilors for District 1 are Richard Advincula, Lexter Ibay, Ma. Luisa Petallo and Jonathan Cabrera. The two other winning candidates, Marlon Pesebre and Mary Grace Santos, are aligned with the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi).

For District 2, the winning candidates for councilor are Imelda Calixto-Rubiano, Noel Bayona, Reynaldo Padua, Editha Vergel de Dios, Arnel Regino Arceo and Ian Vendivel.

BOC chairwoman Antoinette Soriano made the proclamation at 12:15 a.m. yesterday.

Given a fresh mandate, Trinidad vowed to rid the city of illegal drugs and garbage, and crack down on prostitution and gambling.

“We have been through a lot, and our re-election has proven that the voice of our people rang louder than our opponents’ destructive lies and fabricated stories. Our sincere service and honest agenda surfaced above their negative stunts. We shall hold accountable those people who have done unlawful things to jeopardize our service and hurt us,” he said in a statement.

In Parañaque, re-electionist Mayor Florencio Bernabe Jr. was proclaimed the winning candidate at 10:22 p.m. Sunday.

In 1,186 of the city’s 1,219 precincts, Bernabe received 100,178 votes against the 57,897 votes of his rival, Pablo Olivarez.        

UNO candidate Gustavo Tambunting won the vice mayoral race with 87,246 votes over incumbent Vice Mayor Andres Jose Yllana’s 67,986 votes.

The Comelec also proclaimed incumbent Rep. Ed Zialcita the winner in District 1 based on figures counted in 504 precincts, where he got 47,428 votes over rivals Walfrido Ferrer, who had 14,070 votes; Fortunato Yabut with 630 votes and Netz Varona with 187 votes.

In the race to represent District 2 in Congress, re-electionist Rep. Roilo Golez won with 48,310 votes counted from 680 precincts as against his rivals Romy Roxas with 30,363 votes; Jing Arroyo, 7,938 votes and Pacing Rosal, 982 votes.

However, votes for the councilors are still being counted and the eight winning candidates for each district will be proclaimed as soon as the canvassing is over.