BY GLENDA TAYONA and IME SORNITO
ILOILO – There are no surprises at all in the congressional races in the city and province of Iloilo. All the reelectionists were poised to win.
They were leading in the vote counting last night with their leads already insurmountable.
First District’s Rep. Janette Garin, running under the National Unity Party (NUP), so far got 131,011 votes – much ahead of her challenger Victor Tabaquirao (PDP-Laban) who had 26,153 votes.
In the 2nd District, Rep. Michael Gorriceta (Nacionalista Party) is assured of another term as he is unopposed. He garnered a total of 128,547 votes.
“Ginapasalamatan ko gid kag ginalantaw nga daku ini nga kabalaslan sa mga pumuluyo sang Segundo Distrito. Baylohan ko ina sang serbisyo sa aton distrito kag kabay pa nga matapos nga mangin matawhay ang aton eleksyon,” said Gorriceta.
He vowed to push for more infrastructures projects, medical and educational scholarships, livelihood projects, and among others.
“Importante ang next three years para sa amon sa local nga elected para maka-recover ang aton mga pumuluyo kay masobra man duha ka tuig ang aton pag-pinetensya,” he added.
In the 3rd District, incumbent Cong. Lorenz “Nonoy” Defensor (National Unity Party) posted a landslide win (154,071) against independent candidate Eduardo Artazona. (2,738 votes).
“Nagapasalamat gid ako sa pagsalig sang mga taga-Tersier Distrito, sigurado nga padayun ang akon sensiro nga pagserbisyo sa ila kag pagrepresentar sang husto sa Kamara de Representante,” said Defensor.
He vowed to continue infrastructure development in the district, particularly the road networks.
“Manami ang aton ginapana-aw nga plano sa aton nga mga banwa kag nalipay gid ako nga gintagaan ako sang isa ka sigurado nga tsansa nga mapadayun ko ini nga plano upod ang mga local government units sa siam ka banwa sa Tersier Distrito,” he said.
In the 4th District, Ferjenel Biron (Nacionalista Party) appeared to have made a successful comeback to congressman. He was leading with 124,226 votes so far in the counting last night against Reynaldo Galeno of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) with 27,123 votes and independent candidate Antonio Parcon with 8,853 votes.
Meantime, former congressman Niel “Jun-jun” Tupas Jr. failed for the third time to dethrone his reelectionist younger brother Cong. Raul “Boboy” Tupas.
Raul got 137,774 votes against Jun-jun’s 58,035 votes.
In the lone district of Iloilo City, former Iloilo City mayor Jose “Joe” Espinosa III (Nacionalista Party) failed to unseat incumbent Cong. Julienne “Jam-jam” Baronda (NUP).
Baronda was leading in the counting with 138,909 votes so far while Espinosa III got 79,337.
“I am humbled by the fresh mandate that the Ilonggos have given me, and their trust will only motivate me to double my efforts to repay them with viable and life-changing projects, and transformational programs,” she said./PN
