Umali, running mate headed for landslide victory in polls

CABANATUAN CITY – Reelectionist Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali and his running mate, Vice Gov. Jose Gay Padiernos appear headed for landslide victories based on partial unofficial tallies of election returns.

          Based on a tally of 1,390 out of 1,850 ERs or 74.7% covering 735,979 of 1,363,633 registered voters, Umali of the Liberal Party/Unang Sigaw Partido ng Pagbabago, obtained 416,069 votes as against 254,156 of outgoing first district Rep. Josie Manuel-Joson of the Nationalist People’s Coalition-Bagong Lakas ng Nueva Ecija (NPC-Balane) or a difference of 161,913.

          Padiernos garnered 404,379 votes as against Joson’s brother-in-law and running mate, ex-vice governor Eduardo Joson IV’s 228,875 or a margin of 175,504.

          Umali also posted landslide victories in the 2007 and 2010 gubernatorial races over Joson-Manuel’s husband, former vice governor and outgoing Quezon Mayor Mariano Cristino and then-vice governor Edward Thomas Joson, respectively.

          Official tallies from the Provincial Board of Canvassers chaired by lawyer Lydia Pangilinan also showed Umali getting 300,133 votes as against Joson’s 174,322 while Padiernos got 290,863 to Joson’s 158,988 as of presstime.

          Pangilinan said they have yet to receive electronically transmitted results in the cities of Cabanatuan and Gapan and the municipalities of Cabiao, Gabaldon, Guimba, Jaen, Licab and Pantabangan.

          In the congressional races, Board Member Estrelita Suansing holds a wide margin over Mariano Cristino and comebacking former two-time congressman Renato Diaz in the first district.

          Suansing, wife of Customs deputy commissioner Horacio, obtained 85,469 votes as against Joson’s 71,179 and Diaz’s 13,862.

          In the third district, Umali’s wife, reelectionist Rep. Czarina is headed for another landslide win with 105,952 votes as against human rights lawyer J.V. Bautista’s 58,989.

          In the fourth district, outgoing three-term Rep. Rodolfo Antonino’s daughter Magnolia is leading the four-way congressional race with 106,813 as against 35,205 of two-term San Leonardo Mayor Froilan Nagano, the 25,759 of former two-term congresswoman Julita Villareal and the 16,871 of Villareal’s sister-in-law, former San Isidro mayor Sonia Lorenzo.

          In Cabanatuan City, Umali’s younger brother, outgoing Board Member Emmanuel Antonio, is trailing reelectionist Mayor Julius Cesar Vergara (33,529-57,118). – Manny Galvez