Marcos siblings proclaimed

LAOAG CITY — The two re-electionist Marcos children — Ilocos Norte Gov. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and second district Rep. Imee Marcos, who both ran unopposed — were proclaimed winners yesterday.

The provincial board of canvassers credited Bongbong with 111,657 votes and Imee with 68,548 votes with election returns from eight towns still to be canvassed.

Being unopposed, the results in the remaining towns would not jeopardize their proclamation, officials said.

Three other Marcos kin appear headed to victory in the battle for provincial board seats.

Michael Marcos Keon was a close second in the first district race, while Mariano Marcos II and Angelo Marcos Barba occupied the top two positions in the second district. The trio are first cousins of Bongbong and Imee.

Bongbong’s ally, re-electionist Vice Gov. Wendell Chua, was leading in the official count with 88,284 votes over his opponent, former vice governor Mariano Nalupta, who garnered 33,702 votes.

In the first congressional district, it was tight race between re-electionist Rep. Roque Ablan Jr. with 24,851 votes and former Pagudpud Mayor Reynolan Sales with 17,348. The election returns in four remaining towns in the first district were being canvassed at press time.