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    

LEGARDA CALLS FOR MASSIVE CLEAN-UP AFTER ELECTIONS

A day after the May 13 elections, Sen. Loren Legarda has instructed her staff, campaigners and supporters to engage in "oplan linis."

            Legarda, a staunch environmentalist, said all her regional political officers will be responsible for cleaning up and gathering her campaign materials like posters and tarpaulins in every city and municipality across the country.

            In order not to put to waste these campaign materials, the senator plans to donate them as recyclable materials.

            She also plans to mount an exhibit in the Senate to showcase arts from trash.

            “The trash or garbage from the campaign has an effect on the environment. It behooves all candidates to instruct their campaigners and supporters to gather their trash and practice proper waste segregation,” she said.

Legarda is the principal author of the Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, which  provides for recycling as well as segregation of garbage at its source, segregated transportation, processing, treatment and proper disposal of solid waste.

She said local government units (LGUs) should also be at the forefront of this massive clean-up drive after the elections.

Public school teachers in CL ready to give “full degree of service” this election

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, May 13, 2013-Public school teachers have taken a break from the preparations for the full implementation of K to 12 curriculum this coming school year in order to give their  “full degree of service” for the midterm polls.

“As practiced, our personnel will give its full degree of service quality to the citizenry. We have already organized election task forces at the regional and division level” said Department of Education Regional Director Isabelita Borres.

Around 15,800 public school teachers in Central Luzon will go on duty for this election or 35 percent of the total workforce.

“We are now giving P3,000 for the honoraria plus P500 for transportation allowance and extra P500, that is about P4,000 per teacher” Borres added.

There is also an insurance of P13,000 in case there are minor accidents that may transpire and as assistance in terms of harassment.

Central Luzon has 5,823,044 registrants for the midterm polls the third biggest in the archipelago. 

Bulacan has the most number of voters in the region at 1,497,873 followed by Nueva Ecija with 1,363,646; Pampanga-1,239,372; Tarlac-692,948; Bataan-456,648; Zambales- 444,202; and Aurora-128,355.

Southern Tagalog remains the nation’s most vote rich area with over eight million followed by Metro Manila with 5.9 million. 

Meanwhile, Some 1,429 local positions will be up for grabs in Region 3 consisting of 21 congressional seats, 7 gubernatorial, 7 vice gubernatorial, 68 provincial boards, 130 mayoral, 130 vice mayoral, and 1,066 councilors. (Joelyn G. Baluyot)

Police, Army nab six armed men in Bulacan

MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan, May 12, 2013-Six armed men, who are allegedly members of the New People’s Army (NPA), were nabbed on Friday at a Commission on Elections (COMELEC) checkpoint in Villarama Highway, barangay Bitungol in Norzagay town in Bulacan.

 

“The group, who converted a civilian vehicle into a military type transport were apprehended by the combined elements of Norzagaray Police and 56^th Infantry Battalion” said 7^th Infantry Division (7ID) Public Affairs Officer Captain Mark Anthony Ruelos.

 

According to initial investigation, the group was headed to the municipality of Doña Remedios Trinidad (DRT), also in Bulacan, to initiate election fraud activities.

 

Confiscated from the apprehended men were one 6x6 truck that was illegally painted with military green, one Hummvee, colored desert storm fatigue, and a white Montero Sport SUV with no plate.

 

The vehicles were reportedly loaded with two M653 rifles, one .45 cal and 9 mm pistols.  Also onboard the vehicles were Dumagats.

 

Charges, which include illegal possession of firearms and violation of COMELEC gun ban, were immediately filed against the considered extortionists while the Dumagats were released for lack of evidence.

 

The group as well as the recovered firearms and vehicles were brought to the Bulacan Police Provincial Office headquarters for proper disposition and further investigation.

 

“I would like to congratulate the 56^th Infantry Battalion, the Philippine National Police and other stakeholders for successfully neutralizing what we now consider to be just remnants of these lawless leftist groups and performing once more what you have recently achieved in Bulacan. Hopefully with these accomplishments and incomparable efforts of our men in uniform, I believe that we can have an honest, credible, and fair midterm polls this coming Monday,” 7ID Commander Major General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said. (Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu)