Pampanga Comelec proclaims Lapid, Mikey

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) officially proclaimed yesterday Gov. Lito Lapid as re-elected governor of this province.

His running mate, presidential son Mikey Arroyo, was also proclaimed vice governor in absentia the other night.

The Comelec finally finished yesterday the tabulation of election returns from all over the province, indicating that some 70 percent of 875,281 local voters cast their ballots in the May 14 polls.

The Comelec count confirmed the figures of the National Movement for Free Elections (Nam—frel) showing a groundswell for the Lakas-NUCD’s Lapid-Mikey tandem.

Comelec count revealed that Lapid got a total of 501,238 votes versus his rival Bacolor Mayor Ananias Canlas’ 36,532. Canlas ran under the Buklod Capam—pangan-Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).

Provincial Comelec supervisor Artemio Lambino said Mikey had gone to the United States, apparently for a post-election vacation, and was proclaimed in absentia the other night.

Mikey’s lone rival, Allan Villanueva of the Partido ng Masang Pilipino, got a mere 3,082 votes.

Lambino said that except in Mabalacat town where losing NPC mayoral candidate Anthony Dee has filed an election protest against winning Lakas-NUCD Mayor Marino Morales, all other local candidates in Pampanga have already been proclaimed.

The Comelec tally for the provincial board race showed Lubao Mayor Lilia Pineda topping it with 86,233 votes. She is likely to be declared the most senior provincial board member which ranks next to the post of vice governor.

The Comelec tabulation also tallied with the Namfrel’s 12-1 result in the senatorial race in favor of the People Power Coalition (PPC). In the "Magic 13" are (according to ranking): Joker Arroyo, Francis Pangilinan, Juan Flavier, Manuel Villar, Ralph Recto, Franklin Drilon, Jun Magsaysay, Serge Osmeña, Roberto Pagdanganan, Wigberto Tañada, Winnie Monsod, Ernesto Herrera and independent candidate Noli de Castro. PPC’s Liwayway Chato ranked 14th. — Ding Cervantes