Dy-Albano tandem enjoys wide margin in Isabela race

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines. – Re-electionist Isabela Gov. Faustino Dy III and his running mate, Tony Pet Albano, yesterday enjoyed wide margins over their rivals, even as few more returns from remote towns still had to be canvassed.

As of press time, Dy had 253,024 votes against Marlo Angelo Padaca’s 22,455 and independent candidate Glorietta Almazan’s 5,393. Padaca is the elder brother of former Isabela governor, now Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Grace Padaca.

“Padaca is just a token candidate but he garnered huge votes,” said former village chief Armando Cumigad, taking note of the desire of some Isabelinos for a new leadership.

Except for last-minute radio advertisements, Padaca neither held campaign sorties nor rallies to boost his gubernatorial bid.

Albano, son of Rep. Rodolfo Albano Jr., garnered 205,192 votes against Marilou Cumigad, an elementary school teacher who got 54,489.

Meanwhile, the Comelec yesterday proclaimed as winners 25 mayoral bets in Isabela, six of them unopposed, based on completed election returns in the province, which has 34 towns and three cities.

Among the declared mayoral winners was Gilbert Masigan, the vice mayor of Sta. Maria town who was charged and detained for poking a gun on a supporter of a rival candidate who refused his handshake during a campaign sortie.

Mayor Crispina Agcaoili of San Mateo town got his second term, along with her husband, Vice Mayor Roberto Agcaoili.

San Pablo town Mayor Jose Antonio Miro III won his third and last term, along with his father Jose Antonio Jr. as vice mayor.

Also declared winners were Alicia Mayor Ian Paul Dy and Vice Mayor Joel Amos Alejandro; Benito Soliven re-electionist Mayor Benjamin Sanglay and Vice Mayor Roberto Lungan; Burgos re-electionist Mayor Ruben Tegui and Vice Mayor Fred de la Cruz; Jones Mayor Leticia Sebastian and Vice Mayor Florante Raspado; Luna Mayor Jaime Atayde and Vice Mayor Andrea Domingo; Mallig re-electionist Mayor Pedro Flores and Vice Mayor Almario Elizarde; Naguilian re-electionist Mayor Edgar Capuchino and Vice Mayor Bernardo de la Peña; Quezon Mayor Daryl Gascon and Vice Mayor Jimmy Gamazon Jr.; Reina Mercedes re-electionist Mayor Anthony Respicio and Vice Mayor Maria Lourdes Seguban; Quirino re-electionist Josie Bella Juan and Vice Mayor Victor Emmanuel Callangan; Ramon  re-electionist Mayor Wilfredo Tabag and Vice Mayor Dennis Jon de la Cruz; Roxas re-electionist Mayor Benedict Calderon and Vice Mayor Servando Soriano; San Agustin  re-electionist Mayor Virgilio Padilla and Vice Mayor Cesar Mondalla; and San Guillermo Mayor Marilou Sanchez and Vice Mayor Edgar Guyud.

Former first district congressman Rodolfo Albano won as mayor of his hometown Cabagan where he ran unopposed. His son-in-law Christopher Mamauag won as vice mayor.

Other mayors who ran unopposed and their winning running mates were Tumauini Mayor Arnold Baustista and Vice Mayor Christoper Uy; Sto. Tomas Mayor Leandro Talaue and Vice Mayor Eduardo Talaue; San Manuel Mayor Michael Dy and Vice Mayor Mario Napicog Jr.; Delfin Albano Mayor Tomas Pua and Vice Mayor Edwin Badua Jr.; Aurora Mayor William Uy and Vice Mayor Damian Duldulao; and Angadanan Mayor Lourdes Panganiban and Vice Mayor Diosdado Siquian.

Mayor Laurencio Zuniega of Cordon town got a fresh mandate, a vindication of sorts on the rape charges filed against him which he said were mere fabrications of his rivals to destroy his name. Lawyer Hipolito Salatan, Zuniega’s running mate, lost to newcomer Charlita Mariano.