PDP Laban bets rule Zambo Norte polls

DIPOLOG CITY, Zamboanga del Norte – The local candidates of the ruling PDP Laban in the province prevailed over the bets of the Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) in last week’s elections.

Re-electionist Gov. Robert Uy of PDP Laban won against former congressman Rommel Jalosjos in a hotly contested election for governor, 219,412 votes against 216,517.

Uy and running mate, incumbent vice governor Zenon Angeles and winning candidates for provincial board seats were proclaimed Saturday night after a five-day delay in the canvassing of votes.

Ellis Miguel, provincial election supervisor, said the delay was traced to the more than 140 defective SD cards for the Vote Counting Machines (VCMs) which failed to transmit the election results from the polling centers to the Provincial Board of Canvassers.

The lawyers of gubernatorial bet Jaloslos asked the board of canvassers chaired by Miguel to suspend the proclamation of Uy because Jaloslos was planning to file a petition before the Comelec central office questioning the results in the gubernatorial race.

Miguel denied the petition, saying the proclamation of Uy should proceed since there was no pre-proclamation protest lodged before the board of canvassers.

At least 20 PDP Laban mayoral candidates in the 27 towns and two cities in Zamboanga del Norte won.

The local elections in the Zamboanga del Norte were a political faceoff between the rival political clans of the Jalosjoses and the Uys.

Former Pulangco town mayor Roberto Uy Jr. lost in his congressional bid for the province's first district against reelectionist congressman Romeo Jalosjos Jr.

Reelectionist Dipolog City Mayor Darryl Dexter Uy won against former Zamboanga Norte Gov. Rolando Yebes, an ally of Jalosjos.