80 more local bets have been proclaimed, 2 days after automated polls

Eighty more local candidates for local positions have been proclaimed two days after the country’s first nationwide automated elections, a document from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) showed. Although more proclamations were made on Wednesday, the total 177 local bets proclaimed as winners still represent less than one percent of the total 17,928 to be filled in this year’s polls. The Comelec earlier said that it expects all local winners to be proclaimed a day after elections, but later admitted delays in proclamation due “heavy traffic" in transmission of poll results. Among those proclaimed as winners two days after the polls was Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr., who took over the Makati mayoralty previous held by his father and namesake, leading vice-presidential candidate Jejomar Binay. Reelectionist mayors Canuto Oreta of Malabon City and Enrico Echiverri of Caloocan City have also been officially proclaimed winners. In San Juan City, incumbent mayor Joseph Victor Ejercito has been proclaimed as representative of the city’s lone district. His post is to be taken over by actress Guia Gomez, who has a child with former President Joseph Estrada. In Bulacan, incumbent vice-governor Rep. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado was proclaimed governor, while his running mate, actor Daniel Fernando, was proclaimed new vice-governor. In Camarines Sur, Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya, Jr. officially reclaimed the congressional seat of the province’s first district, which he previously occupied three years ago. He will replace presidential son Diosdado Macapagal Arroyo. The Comelec expects all local candidates to be proclaimed by Friday. - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV