LEADING THE RACE. Incumbent Dinagat Islands Vice Governor Nilo Demerey Jr. is leading the race for governor in the province based on the 98 percent of partial, unofficial election returns counted as of 2 p.m. Tuesday (May 10, 2022). Demerey, who obtained 33,993 votes, is set to displace the incumbent governor, Arlene 'Kaka' Bag-ao, who is on her last term and who only received 25,552 votes. (Photo grabbed from Vice Gov. Nilo Demerey's Facebook Page)
BUTUAN CITY – Some of Caraga Region's prominent political families and personalities are bowing out from office following lackluster performance in Monday's elections.
Political rivals appeared to have dislodged the Pichays of Surigao del Sur, the Matugases of Surigao del Norte, and incumbent Dinagat Islands Governor Arlene "Kaka" Bag-ao, from power.
Based on partial and unofficial results from the aggregated Commission on Elections' (Comelec) transparency server, Dinagat Islands incumbent Vice Governor Nilo Demerey Jr. is set to replace Bag-ao, who is on her last term.
Dinagat islands
As of 2:52 p.m. Tuesday with 98 percent of the partial, unofficial elections returns counted, Demerey achieved a commanding lead of 33,993 votes compared to the 25,552 votes garnered by Bag-ao.
Demerey said he was elated with the “overwhelming support” of Dinagatnons for his candidacy.
“I am thankful for the trust you bestowed on me. The sacrifices and experiences we’ve been through were tough, but we emerged victoriously,” Demerey said in a phone interview.
Demerey’s running mate, Benglen Ecleo, is also leading the vice gubernatorial race with 32,446 votes compared to his rival, Sanny Seco who received 20,499 votes.
Surigao del Norte
In Surigao del Norte, three important major positions are about to be wrested by rivals from the Matugas clan.
In the gubernatorial race, the patriarch of the Matugas clan and the incumbent governor, Francisco, is heading for defeat against Lyndon Barbers, son of the late senator Robert Barbers.
Based on the 96.7 percent transmitted partial and unofficial election returns, Barbers is leading the race with 159,900 votes against Matugas’s 141,784.
In the capital Surigao City, Mayor Ernesto Matugas Jr. and his father, Vice Mayor Ernesto Matugas Sr., are also likely to lose their elective posts as their rivals continue to dominate the votes.
Of the 87 percent partial and unofficial turnouts, Paul Dumlao, with 46,296 votes, is heading for victory, compared to Matugas Jr.'s 32,260.
For the vice mayoral position, Matugas Sr. is lagging behind with 33,834 votes against his rival Alfonso Casurra, who received 43,266 votes.
Of the Matugas clan members, only Francisco Jose Matugas II, the incumbent representative of Surigao del Norte's first legislative district, is likely to hold his seat.
Matugas II received 50,250 votes as compared to his rival, Lucille Sering, with 31,742 votes.
The first district of Surigao del Norte covers the whole of Siargao Island with nine municipalities.
The Matugas matriarch, Sol, who served as governor for three terms in the province, is also set to win the mayoral race in the country's surfing capital, General Luna town, in Siargao Island.
Sol, with a 100 percent unofficial election return count on Tuesday, is way ahead with 8,849 votes against her rival, Yoyang Plaza, who obtained 5,885 votes.
Surigao del Sur
In Surigao del Sur, 100 percent of the unofficial turnouts have been counted Tuesday afternoon with two candidates from the Pichay family bowing to their respective opponents.
Independent candidate Romeo Momo is leading the race for the first legislative district seat in the province with 106,765 votes compared to the 97,295 votes gained by incumbent Representative Prospero Pichay.
Momo serves as the incumbent representative of the Construction Workers Solidarity party-list.
In the gubernatorial race, incumbent Governor Alexander Pimentel is way ahead with 195,447 votes as against Prospero's wife, Carla, who garnered 159,265 votes. (PNA)
