PANGASINAN -- The Commission on Elections has proclaimed on Wednesday the winner in the Pangasinan gubernatorial race and other winning candidates.
Outgoing fifth district representative Ramon Guico III was proclaimed winner in the Pangasinan gubernatorial race and will serve for three years.
Guico, who belongs to the Nacionalista Party (NP), defeated former governor Amado “ Pogi “ Espino III of the Abante Pangasinan Ilokano (API), garnering 885,272 from 44 municipalities, one independent city and three components cities.
Governor Espino failed in his bid for a third term after receiving just 697,465 votes. Pangasinan has about 2.1 million registered voters.
Guico told local reporters that he is interested in building the eastern to western Pangasinan expressway and improving the healthcare system in the provincial hospitals.
The expressway, Guico said, would provide easy travel to famous tourist destinations in the province, provide jobs, and support proposed economic zones.
Guico, who is a licensed commercial pilot, thanked the Pangasinenses for the trust, confidence and support given him.
Meanwhile, Vice-Governor Mark Ronald Lambino of Lakas-CMD was re-elected, garnering 877,948 votes to defeat his rival, outgoing second district board Member Nestor “Nikiboy” Reyes of API who received 550,221 votes.
Other winning candidates in the congressional race who were also proclaimed on May 10 are Representatives Arthur “Art” Celeste of NP (first district), Mark Cojuangco of the Nationalist People’s Coalition or NPC (second district), Christopher George Martin ‘Toff’ De Venecia of Lakas-CMD (fourth district), and Guico Jr. (fifth district).
Representatives Maria Rachel Arenas (third district) and Marlyn “Len” Primicias-Agabas (sixth district), both from Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan or PDPLBN, were proclaimed on Wednesday.
The Comelec said that a total of 1,828,196 out 2,096,936 registered voters actually cast their votes for a high 87.18 percent voters’ turnout.