Lakas-Kampi candidates win big in Southern Leyte

MAASIN CITY – The well organized and financed Mercado political machinery in Southern Leyte made mince-meat of the rag-tag and hastily formed political alliance led by Former Governor Rosette Yniquez Lerias.

The rout was particularly lopsided in Maasin where Lerias (who ran for mayor) won in only two of the city’s 70 barangays. As of press time she was lagging behind incumbent City Mayor Maloney Samaco by 11,000 votes. Lerias lost to Samaco by just over 1000 votes in their last political encounter in 2007.

In the congressional race Representative Roger Mercado led his opponent Aniceto Saludo by over 50,000 votes with 80 percent of the votes counted.

While the Lakas-Kampi provincial bets led by Governor Damian Mercado and 8 candidates for provincial board member were leading their opponents according to Provincial Comelec Officer Antonio Gulay. With over 80 percent of the votes already counted Mercado led his opponent Dundeet Lerias by nearly 48,000 votes. The only opposition candidate for Board Member who is still in the running is Former Vice Governor Eva Tomol.

Despite the big leads enjoyed by the administration bets for congressman, governor and city mayor they have not been proclaimed because none of their opponents have conceded so they have to wait for all the votes to be counted.

Though both camps have accused each other of massive vote-buying, many voters said they resented the negative campaign waged by the opposition who they felt had nothing better to offer.

The predominance of the administration’s Lakas-Kampi party was also reflected in the results of the mayoral races in the 18 towns of the province where its candidates won in 16 towns and lost only in Saint Bernard and Liloan. Even the incumbent mayor of San Francisco Diego Yuboc, a popular Lerias stalwart, lost to Lakas mayoral bet Samson Gamutan Jr.

According to the latest election returns the following administration candidates for mayor have been elected; For Macrohon Fe Edillo, Padre Burgos Ricardo Borces, Limasawa Melchor Petracorta, Malitbog Allan Go, Tomas Oppus Nene Escaño, Bontoc Mateas Mervyn Ruales, Sogod Shefferd Tan, Libagon Oliver Ranque, Liloan Sherlita Chong, San Francisco Samson Gamutan Jr. San Juan Federico Flores, San Ricardo William Yu, Hinundayan Eveyln Lee and Silago Manuel Labrador.

The two opposition mayoral candidate who won were Rico Rentuza of Saint Bernard and Sherlita Chong of Liloan.(By RUEVIVAR M. REYES)

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