This, as two of his rivals in the gubernatorial race — Reps. Juan Pablo Bondoc (fourth district) and Zenaida Ducut (second district), both of the Nationalist People’s Coalition — announced on local radio yesterday that they were conceding defeat to the young Lapid.
In a statement, Mark thanked his supporters and appealed for peace and sobriety as the canvassing of election returns continued.
While the provincial board of canvassers is not expected to finish its tabulation in the next two weeks, partial and unofficial figures from the National Movement for Free Elections-Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (Namfrel-PPCRV) showed Mark with 167,383 votes versus Bondoc’s 83,754 and Ducut’s 73,226.
Mark hogged showbiz headlines because he was courting actress-talk show host Kris Aquino, daughter of former President Corazon Aquino.
Basketball coach Joseller "Yeng" Guiao, Mark’s vice gubernatorial running mate, also seems headed for victory.
Namfrel-PPCRV figures showed him with 172,905 votes against Bondoc’s running mate Edna David’s 75,471 and Ducut’s bet Clayton Olalia’s 40,810. — With Ric Sapnu