Daraga vice mayor poised to defeat Batocabe widow, Baldo

Vice Mayor Victor Perete is poised to rule Daraga town in Albay for the next three years based on the latest unofficial results of the May 13 elections, GMA News' Mariz Umali reported on Eleksyon 2019: The GMA News and Public Affairs Special Coverage on Tuesday.

As of 6:38 a.m. on Tuesday, Perete was leading with 20,651 votes over his rivals Gertie Batocabe, who has 16,382 votes, and detained mayor Carlwyn Baldo, who has 13,876.

The election in Daraga was thrust into the spotlight following the killing of Ako Bicol party-list Representative Rodel Batocabe in December 2018.

Batocabe was supposed to challenge Baldo in the mayoral race. He was since replaced by his widow Gertie.

Baldo, meanwhile, was arrested and detained last week for being the principal suspect in the killing of Batocabe, an accusation he vehemently denied.

Perete was named acting mayor after Baldo was suspended in connection with the case he is facing.

Meanwhile, for the vice mayoral race, Jungie Jaucian was on top with 23,361 votes, followed by Joey Marcellana with 13,609 votes and Joseph Espinas with 10,318 votes as of 6:38 a.m.

Both Perete and Jaucian are under PDP-Laban. —KBK, GMA News