Hold of Hagedorn on Puerto crumbles

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY — Lawyer Dennis Socrates was proclaimed mayor-elect of this capital city of Palawan yesterday, replacing Mayor Edward Hagedorn who is losing in the gubernatorial race.

Socrates, 39, is the son of former governor Salvador Socrates, who went missing after the Nomad plane he was riding plunged into the Sulu Sea last year.

His running mate, popular broadcaster Fernando Batul, also won as vice mayor along with five members of their Lakas-NUCD-Kampi ticket.

Three of Hagedorn’s party mates in the Puwersa ng Masa and two independent bets completed the winning circle of city councilors.

Socrates won by a wide margin over Diomedes de Guzman, Hagedorn’s "anointed," garnering 23,818 votes over the latter’s 10,718 votes.

Batul also prevailed with 18,095 votes over Hagedorn’s brother-in-law, Lucilo Bayron, who placed second with 15,810 votes.

Last Sunday, the provincial board of canvassers proclaimed re-electionist Rep. Vicente Sandoval, along with the five winning provincial board members for the first district.

Leading gubernatorial candidate Gov. Joel Reyes was expected to be proclaimed last night when the provincial canvassers would resume their session.

Hagedorn’s running mate, former Rep. Dave Ponce de Leon, is ahead in the vice gubernatorial race. Abraham Mitra, son of former House Speaker Ramon Mitra, is leading the second district congressional race. — Bandillo ng Palawan News Service