Espino enjoying wide lead over Braganza

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Philippines – Re-electionist Gov. Amado Espino Jr. earned an avalanche of votes based on precinct tally sheets canvassed by the board of election inspectors in the province’s 44 towns and three cities as of press time yesterday.

Espino’s 699,573 votes as of press time was three times the votes cast in favor of his opponent, Alaminos City Mayor Hernani Braganza, who got 237,109 votes in the total unofficial count.

In Alaminos City where Braganza is the incumbent mayor, Espino shoveled in 8,969 votes while the mayor got only 5,954 votes.

Espino’s margin of 462,464 almost sealed his win, short of the official confirmation and his proclamation by the provincial board of canvassers.

Braganza’s beating was worse in Asingan town, home of his uncle, former President Fidel Ramos, who endorsed his gubernatorial bid, where he got only 6,675 votes against Espino’s 18,937.

For his part, re-electionist Vice Gov. Jose Ferdinand Calimlim had a commanding lead of 575,664 votes against former Philippine National Police chief Arturo Lomibao’s 244,544 votes.

Voter turnout in Pangasinan in last Monday’s balloting was a low 59.9 percent. The province has 1.5 million registered voters but votes cast reached only 936,682.