Lingayen – Reelectionist Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Jr. of Aksyon Demokratiko emerged victorious after a nerve-wracking vice gubernatorial race by edging his opponent by only 5,808 votes.
Vice Gov. Calimlim garnered 568,018 votes to defeat his rival, Calasiao Mayor Mark Macanlalay of Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), who posted 562,210 votes.
The provincial board of canvassers (PBOC) led by Provincial Comelec Officer Joel Gines proclaimed Vice Gov. Calimlim on May 12 as re-elected vice governor, who shall serve as presiding officer of the province’s legislative branch on his third and last term.
“Nagpapasalamat po ako nang buong puso sa lahat ng nagtiwala at sumuporta sa akin at nagbigay ng pagkakataon para magsilbi sa ilalim ng bagong liderato ,” the vice governor said in an interview.
Calimlim said that he will remain supportive of the programs initiated by Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. as he vowed to support through legislation the incoming leadership of governor-elect Amado “Pogi” Espino, III.
The 10th SP shall convene after the transition of provincial administration by July this year with eight re-elected members, namely: Napoleon Fontelera, Jr. (NPC) and Antonio Sison (NPC) of the 1st district; Raul Sison (Aksyon Demokratiko) and Nikiboy Reyes (Liberal Party) of the 2nd district; Angel Baniqued, Jr. (LP) and Generoso Tulagan, Jr. (KBL) of the 3rd district; Liberato Villegas (LP) of the 4th district; and Clemente Arboleda, Jr. (NPC) of the 5th district.
Come-backing board members are: Jeremy Agerico Rosario (LP) of the 4th district; and Salvador Perez, Jr. (NPC) of the 6th district, who previously joined the SP as provincial councilors’ league federation president.
New SP members are: Chinky Perez (NPC) of the 5th district and Noel Bince (LP) of the 6th district.
Gines, PBOC chair, noted that Pangasinan has posted 85.11 percent voters’ turnout with 1,451,424 actual voters of the 1,705,260 registered voters in Pangasinan.
“Compared to mid-term elections, the voters’ turnout for the national elections is high because of the presidential and vice presidential elections,” Gines said.