Legazpi City—Gertrudes Batocabe, the widow of the late Ako Bikol Party-list congressman Rodel Batocabe, waved the white flag on Tuesday and accepted defeat in the 2019 mayoral elections in Daraga, Albay.
Batocabe lagged behind acting mayor Victor Perete, who is on top of the race with 21,615 votes against the widow’s 17,358 votes in the partial and unofficial tally as of 1 p.m. Tuesday.
Incumbent Mayor Carlwyn Baldo, who has been tagged as the mastermind in the killing of Rep. Batocabe in December last year, received 14,774 votes.
Gertie Batocabe expressed gratitude to those who supported her.
“Thank you very much, to all our family, friends and supporters who have helped us in this campaign,” she said.
Even if the election results were not in their favor, Batocabe said her camp respects the decision of the people.
“We have fought a good and honorable fight and I am so grateful to have had your love and respect as a substitute candidate for my husband, Rodel M. Batocabe. God bless us all, I pray for our beloved Daraga,” she said.
Meanwhile in Trece Martires City, Cavite, Gemma Lubigan, the widow of slain vice mayor Alex Lubigan, is leading this city’s mayoralty polls based on the Commission on Elections partial and unofficial canvassing of election returns early Tuesday.
Running against Melencio de Sagun Jr., the former city mayor, and father of the incumbent mayor, Lubigan got 27,918 votes to the former’s 21,197 votes.
Another contender, Denver Colorado, is at third with more than 10,000 votes.
In a phone interview, Comelec provincial chief, Atty. Arnold Pio Quinto clarified that although Lubigan is leading, she cannot be declared as the official winner “as we are yet to receive 100 percent of the election returns.”
Quinto said the counting of election returns still continues in cities like Imus, General Trias, Dasmariñas, and Trece Martires City.
Lubigan filed her certificate of candidacy last October to continue, she said, her slain husband’s “unfinished business.”
The vice mayor was on board a sports utility vehicle when armed men shot and killed him and his driver last July.
Alex Lubigan was on his last term as vice mayor and had signified intent to run for the city’s mayoralty just a few days before he was killed.
