LUCENA CITY, Philippines – Incumbent Quezon Gov. David Suarez (NUP) was leading yesterday in the gubernatorial race over his rival Irvin Alcala (Liberal Party), son of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala.
Based on the partial, unofficial tally as of press time yesterday, representing 85 percent of election returns in the province, Suarez, son of House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez, got 314,617 votes as against Alcala’s 257,968, or a margin of 56,649 votes.
The provincial office of the Commission on Elections was still waiting yesterday for the election returns from Lucena City and the towns of San Francisco, General Luna, General Nakar, Lopez, Guinyangan, and Candelaria.
Suarez’s running mate, Romano Talaga (UNA), however, was losing to Sam Nantes (LP), Alcala’s partner, in the vice gubernatorial race.
Last Tuesday, Lucena City incumbent Mayor Rhoderick Alcala and his vice mayoral running mate Philip Castillo were proclaimed winners.
Other Talaga clan members were losing in their bids: councilor Ramil Talaga, and his mother Barbara Talaga against Vicente Alcala in the second congressional district race.
Dr. Helen Tan won over Toby Tañada, brother of Rep. Lorenzo “Erin†Tañada in the fourth district. In the first district, Rep. Mark Enverga was proclaimed winner.