EXCEPT for a re-electionist Dagupan city councilor, the entire slate of the ruling Lakas-CMD party led by former immigration Commissioner Alipio Fernandez, Jr. ruled the May 14 election in the city.

Fernandez led by a big margin over his rival Brian Lim, son of Mayor Benjamin S. Lim who himself suffered defeat in the congressional fight against re-electionist Congressman Jose de Venecia, Jr.

Only re-electionist alderman Alex de Venecia fell by the wayside, landing number 11. Read the rest of this entry »

LINGAYEN – The congressional race in the Third District isn’t over till it’s over, it seems.

The legal team of candidate Gallant D. Soriano has filed a manifestation Friday evening to stop the issuance of the certificate of canvass from San Carlos City, Soriano’s bailiwick, alleging that the final tally of the Board of
Canvassers did not match the tally of votes received by Soriano as there was a difference of less than 3,000 votes from the reports of Soriano’s poll watchers.

Lawyer Eric Lazo said he is now studying all legal options to remedy the situation and ensure that the true will of the voters of the district is respected and implemented. Read the rest of this entry »

A REAL bad joke was played on victorious Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr.

Streams of people trooped to the house of the Speaker in Bonuan Binloc on Wednesday after a rumor spread that he was giving “balato” (tips) to all who can present campaign paraphernalia among those who supported him.

De Venecia and wife Gina were already on their way to Manila when the big number of people arrived at the gate of their home. Read the rest of this entry »

LINGAYEN-DAGUPAN Archbishop Oscar Cruz observed that vote-buying was rampant practically all over the province before the elections.

There were candidates, the prelate said, who engage in vote-buying by retail, and those who bought votes wholesale.

He admitted that the phenomenon of vote-buying in terms of cash and groceries was also practically seen all over the country. Read the rest of this entry »

HOUSE Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. immediately extended the hand of reconciliation to his opponent after a landslide win in the election in the fourth district of Pangasinan.

De Venecia won a third and final term of office with lopsided wins in all parts of the province’s fourth district, namely Dagupan Ctiy, San Fabian, Mangaldan, San Jacinto and Manaoag.

Partial unofficial count as of 10 a.m. Tuesday showed de Venecia garnering 74,708 votes against Dagupan City Mayor Benjamin Lim’s 36,639 votes. Read the rest of this entry »

STA. BARBARA – Retired Police Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco extended the hands of reconciliation to his foe after winning in this election.

He made the gesture soon after he was proclaimed by the municipal board of canvassers on Wednesday as winner of the mayoralty election in his native Sta. Barbara.

Velasco, a former police director of the National Capital Region, amassed 15,827 votes to defeat former three-term Mayor Carlito Zaplan who got 12,441 votes. Read the rest of this entry »

NARVACAN, Ilocos Sur – Seven soldiers, including a lieutenant and one CAFGU member, were killed and four others were seriously wounded in an encounter between government forces and a band of fully-armed New People’s Army (NPA) in barangay Bao-yan, Boliney, Abra on Wednesday.

The soldiers from the army’s 41st Infantry Battalion based in Lagangilang, Abra were clearing the road all the way from Manabo to Boliney when land mines planted by the rebels exploded.

The NPAs were allegedly intending to snatch ballot boxes from Boliney. Read the rest of this entry »

THE city elections office of Dagupan City said the election here was generally peaceful and orderly from the start up to close of voting, with no untoward incident that happened.

City Elections Officer Vanessa Micu-Roncal said she is happy that there was no report of violence whatsoever, nor intimidation of voters by supporters of candidates.

She said she heard reports of rampant vote-buying, adding that everytime there was a report about this, he coordinated with the Philippine National Police to check the same but added that when the police go and check it, they did not find anyone doing vote-buying. Read the rest of this entry »

A TOTAL of 147 assorted firearms were confiscated and seized by the police in the entire Ilocos region during the election period from January 14 this year, to date.

This was disclosed by Police Regional Director Chief Superintendent Leopoldo Bataoil who said the firearms were seized by the police in Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte.

Bataoil believes that there are more firearms, most of which are unlicensed, still in the hands of other civilians in the Ilocos region.
Read the rest of this entry »

By FREDDIE G. LAZARO

BANGUED, Abra – The wife of a town mayor of Abra was critically wounded when she was shot by a suspect disguise as poll watcher during the canvassing of election returns in one of the rooms at the fourth floor of the Holy Spirit Academy Building in this capital town Thursday noon.

The suspect, who was identified as ‘Totoy Buyaw’, died instantly after a commotion between him and the assigned army and police personnel after he shot the victim, Brenda Crisologo, wife of reelectionist Mayor Edwin Crisologo of Tineg town.
Read the rest of this entry »