LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (PIA) -- The Provincial Board of Canvassers proclaimed the newly elected officials in the province of Benguet a day after the elections.
The PBOC led by Benguet Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Dexter Cawis with Vice Chairperson State Auditor Sherelyn Narag and Schools Division Superintendent Gloria Buya-ao (Secretary) proclaimed the newly elected officials in the province of Benguet on May 10, 2022 after receiving all the election results from the respective Municipal Board of Canvassers.
Benguet Caretaker Eric Go Yap will now be the representative of the lone district of Benguet after garnering 123,801 votes against incumbent Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan with 71,200 votes while lawyer Sammy Paran had 4,457 and Keith Thorsson had 2,162 votes.
Incumbent Governor Melchor Diclas gets another three - year term with his total votes of 112,345. He won over incumbent Board Member Robert Namoro who had 64,187 votes, lawyer Jerry Marave (15,352), Jerome Wakat (2,274) and Alexander Tadina (828).
Newcomer Ericson “Tagel” Felipe will take over as Vice Governor with 101,276 votes defeating incumbent Vice Governor Johnny Waguis who had 68,681 votes and Board Member Jim Botiwey (23,197).
For the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, most of the winners are re-electionists while the new comers are children of former Benguet officials.
Newcomer Johannes Amuasen, son of former Board Member Eddie Amuasen, had the highest votes in District 1 with 29,938, followed by re-electionists Sander Fianza (28,992), Florencio Bentrez (28,821) and Juan Coy Nazarro (23,753).
For District 2, newcomer Rose Marie Fongwan-Kepes, daughter of former Governor and Congressman Nestor Fongwan, topped the race with 61,195. Other re-elected Board Members are Fernando “Uncle Pandong” Balaodan Sr. (42,218), Roberto Canuto (41,680), Ruben Paoad (38,392), and Neptali Camsol (36,415). Another newcomer, Joel Tingbaoen Jr., son of former Vice Governor Florence Tingbaoen, took the sixth spot with 36,745 votes.
District 1 is composed of Itogon, Sablan, Tuba, Bokod and Kabayan while District 2 includes La Trinidad, Tublay, Kapangan, Kibungan, Bakun, Buguias and Mankayan.
Meanwhile, there are seven re-elected mayors while five towns have new local chief executives in the province.
Cawis said that there are 243,756 total voters in the province of Benguet and about 85% in total voter turnout for this election. (JDP/RMC- PIA-CAR)
