LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Majority of the winning candidates in the recently concluded May 9, 2016 general and automated elections are either veteran politicians that occupied various lower positions or those belonging to politically inclined families.
Results from the provincial and municipal board of canvassers showed incumbent Rep. Ronald M. Cosalan bested incumbent Gov. Nestor B. Fongwan for the lone congressional seat of the province while former Itogon Mayor and Vice Governor Crescencio Pacalso pulled out a surprise in the gubernatorial race when he outclassed incumbent Vice governor Nelson Dangwa and three others to become the province’s next local chief executive.
Three-term boardmember Florence Tingbaoen emerged the winning candidate in the three-cornered fight for the province’s vice gubernatorial post bsting incumbent boardmember and three-term Atok Mayor Concpecion Balao and three-term Kabayan Mayor Faustino Aquisan.
For Distrcit I boardmembers covering the towns of Bokod, Itogon, Kabayan, Tuba and Sablan, re-electionist Johny Waguis led the 4-member slate followed by incumbent Tuba Mayuor Florencio Bentres, former boardmember Juan Nazaro and former boardmember Bernard Waclin. Distrcit Ii boardmembers which cover the towns of La Trinidad, Tublay, Kapangan, Kibungan, Atok, Bakun, Buguias and Mankayan were re-electionist Robert Namoro and Jim Botiwey closely followed by former boardmember and Buguias Mayor Apolinario Camsol, three-term Tublay Mayor Ruben Paoad, three-term Kapangan Mayor Roberto Canuto and blocktime broadcaster Fernando Balaudan.
Mankayan Mayor Materno Lospian, Atok Mayor Peter Alos, Bakun Mayor Fuastino Lavinio, Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan and Sablan Mayor Arthur Baldo were successful in retaining their respective positions while the new municipal mayors include La Trinidad Mayor-elect Romeo Salda, Tublay Mayor-elect Armando Lauro, Tuba Mayor-elect Ignacio Rivera, Bokod Mayor-elect Tomas Wales, Kabayan Mayor-elect Gideon Todiano, Buguias Mayor-elect Ruben Tindaan, Kapangan Mayor-elect Many Fermin and Kibungan Mayor-elect Cesar Molitas.
For vice mayors, Sablan Vice mayor Manuel Munar, Tuba Vice mayor Clarita Sal-ongan, Itogon vice Mayor Adriano Carantes, Jr., Kibungan Vice mayor Aureiana Sacpa and Mankayan Vice mayor Dario Banario were able to retain their respective positions while newly elected vice Mayors include La Trinidad Vice mayor Joey Marrero, Tublay Vice mayor Juan Esnara, Bakun Vice Mayor Lorenozo Santiban, Bokod Vice Mayor Pedro Anton, Kapangan Vice Mayor Mayo Eslay, Buguas Vice Mayor Dione Baucas, Atok Vice Mayor Angelito Galao and Kabayan Vice Mayor Basilio Daoal.
By HENT
