19 of 20 Lakas mayoral bets in Surigao take lead

SURIGAO CITY - Nineteen of 20 Surigao del Norte Lakas-KAMPI-Padajon Surigao mayoral candidates in twenty municipalities have beaten their Nacionalista Party-Abante Surigao rivals in the Commission on Elections’ final unofficial tally as of 8 p.m. May 11. Surigao City Lakas Mayoralty bet Engr. Ernesto Matugas and his vice mayoral running mate incumbent City Councilor Danilo Menor were already officially proclaimed this evening, Surigao del Norte Comelec Provincial Officer Atty. Geraldine Samson said. In the neck and neck gubernatorial race, former Department of Education regional director Sol Matugas of Caraga Region and Region 8 is now leading the Surigao del Norte Governor race by a margin of more than 1,000 votes against incumbent Governor Robert Ace Barbers as of 8 p.m. Tuesday evening. Surigao del Norte Gubernatorial bet Sol Matugas got 101,922 votes while closest rival incumbent Governor Robert Ace Barbers of Nacionalista Party-Abante Surigao got 99,845, as of the latest tally of canvassing by the Provincial Board of Canvassers. In the first congressional district of Surigao del Norte, incumbent Congressman Atty. Francisco Matugas of Lakas-KAMPI-Padajon Surigao got 34,164 votes while closest rival Constantino Navarro, III got 24,349 votes, in the latest tally of canvassing. Towns under the first congressional district of Surigao del Norte are in Siargao Island, the country’s surfing capital. In Surigao del Norte’s second congressional district, incumbent Rep. Guillermo Romarate, Jr. of Lakas-KAMPI got 78,534 votes while incumbent Surigao City Mayor Alfonso Casurra got 77, 387 votes in the latest tally of the Provincial Board of Canvassers. Lakas-KAMPI-Padajon Surigao Surigao del Norte mayoralty candidates who are all leading in the latest official count were Jaime Rusillon of General Luna, Alfredo Coro of Del Carmen town; re-electionist incumbent Dapa Mayor Peter Ruaya; Rosemarie Gokiangkee of Claver; re-electionist Alegria town Mayor Dominador Esma. Jr.; re-electionist Gigaquit Mayor Carlos Egay, Sr.; Re-electionist Mainit Mayor Ramon Mondano; re-electionist Malimono Mayor Teodoro F. Sinaca, Jr.; re-electionist Socorro town Mayor Elizabeth Gallanida; Felimon Napuli of Placer town. Others Lakas-KAMPI Mayoralty bets in Surigao del Norte province were re-electionist Sison town Lexcester Petalvero; re-electionist Sta. Monica Mayor Rosalinda Penera; re-electionist San Isidro Mayor Lamberto Dominos; re-electionist San Francisco Mayor Simplicia Bacol; re-electionist Bacuag Mayor Sheila Cevedo; re-electionist Mayor Cesar Diaz and Desideria Amedo of San Benito, island town of Siargao. Surigao del Norte Atty. Geraldine Samson told GMANews.TV she is hoping all leading bets tomorrow will be proclaimed despite glitches of some PCOS machines and CF cards which caused the delay of canvassing. - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV