By Zea Capistrano
TAGUM CITY - Former House Speaker Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez is poised to return to the House of Representatives as he continues to dominate the partial and unofficial results of the elections.
Pantaleon Alvarez
(Photo by Ali Vicoy | Manila Bulletin File Photo)
As of 4:50 am, Alvarez, who is running under Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), got 163,150 votes, while Davao del Norte Governor Anthony “AGR” del Rosario lags behind with 67,791 votes. This is according to election results transmitted from 97.71% or 727 of 744 clustered precincts in Davao del Norte. Independent candidate, Caloy Rafales, meanwhile, garnered 406 votes.
Del Rosario conceded defeat and thanked his supporters. “Ania lang ako, ania lang ang among pamilya nga andam mutabang kaninyo (I am just here, my family is just here ready to help you),” he said.
The younger Del Rosario succeeded his father, Rodolfo Del Rosario, as governor of the province in 2016. Rodolfo Del Rosario was provincial governor for five terms since 1998, except in 2004 when Gelacio Gementiza won as governor.
In the second district, PDP-Laban candidate Allan “Aldu” Dujali is also leading against Antonio “Tonyboy” Floirendo, Jr. of Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP). Dujali got 122,516 votes, while Floirendo has 89,973 votes. Independent candidate, Rico Peligro, got 2,241 votes.
Edwin Jubahib, Alvarez’s chief of staff, is also leading the gubernatorial race against Rodolfo del Rosario Jr., with 275,984 votes and 166,870 votes, respectively.
Former Tagum City Mayor Rey Uy of PDP Laban is leading in the vice gubernatorial race with 265,166 votes. His opponent, Raymond Joey Millan of HNP, has 138,490 votes.