Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya—Re-electionist Gov. Carlos Padilla, Rep. Luisa Lloren Cuaresma, and political newcomer Jose Tomas Jr. ruled over their rivals after the peaceful and orderly May 13 polls here.
Officials of the Provincial Board of Canvassers headed by Commission on Elections provincial chief lawyer Erwin Valeroso proclaimed the winning provincial candidates last night at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan session hall at the provincial capitol.
Also proclaimed were winning provincial board members Patricio Dumlao,Jr., Nestor Sevillena, Eunice Galima-Gambol, lawyer Primo Percival Marcos, and Roland Carub for the province’s north district, and Delbert Tidang Jr., Flodemonte Gerdan, Elma Pinao-an-Lejao, lawyer Edgardo Balgos and Dr. Cirilo Galindez, a retired chief of the Veterans Regional Hospital, now called the Cagayan Valley Medical and Trauma Center.
Cuaresma beat the incumbent governor’s wife, former Governor Ruth Padilla, while Carlos Padilla won by a landslide over lawyer and former vice governor Jose Gambito.
Incumbent Vice Governor Lambert Galima Jr. lost to Tomas Jr. the Chief Executive Officer of Tam-an Multi-Purpose Cooperative here.
Supporters of the winning provincial candidates trooped to the provincial capitol yesterday to witness the official proclamation by the Comelec.
Supporters of vice governor-elect Tomas Jr., an Ifugao native, also performed and offered cultural dances for his victory.
Bishop Elmer Mangalinao of the Diocese of Bayombong in a pastoral statement appealed to all the candidates of the recent polls to leave the past behind and renew their harmony and relationship with each other for the good of the province.
“Let us work for the good of our constituents and for a better Nueva Vizcaya. Let us move on to do our share of genuine service for Novo Vizcayanos,” he said.