PROCLAIMED. Capiz Provincial Election Supervisor lawyer Salud Milagros Villanueva reads the certificate of canvass of votes and proclamation of Capiz (2nd District) Rep. Fredenil “Oto” Castro who won the gubernatorial race over his opponent, incumbent Governor Esteban Evan Contreras, on Wednesday (May 11, 2022). Villanueva said voter turnout in Capiz reached as high as 87 percent. (Photo courtesy of Atty. Salud Milagros Villanueva)
ILOILO CITY – Amid the pandemic, the turnout of voters in Capiz reached as high as 85 to 87 percent during the last May 9 polls, when compared with the around 80 percent in the past elections, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
“People are more eager to exercise their right of suffrage and become active in political exercises in our country. Meaning the people are really aware that they need to use the power of their vote in choosing who they want to really represent them,” said lawyer Salud Milagros Villanueva, Capiz Provincial Election Supervisor on Wednesday.
As a whole, she said that the conduct of elections in Capiz was successful as they have not recorded issues on peace and order.
While some of the vote counting machines (VCMs) malfunctioned during the final testing and sealing resulting in the utilization of their 14 contingency machines, the technical issues they encountered on Monday were addressed using their hotline.
Ballot boxes from three clustered precincts in Roxas City and three from the municipality of Sapian were also chosen for the manual audit being conducted in Manila.
The Provincial Board of Canvassers also proclaimed all provincial winners morning of Wednesday.
Starting noontime of June 30, 2022, second district Rep. Fredenil “Oto” Castro will sit as the new governor of the province after beating incumbent Governor Esteban Evan Contreras.
Also proclaimed winners were reelected vice-governor James Magbanua and 10 members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan namely Pepe Del Rosario, Sonny Besa, Gingging Almalbis, Thea Faith Reyes and Trina Marie Ignacio for the first district and Nonoy Arevalo, Gilbert Ardivilla, Mr. Clean Cruz-Am, Inday San Felix and Celio Fecundo for the second district.
Tawi Billones and Jane Castro got the mandate of Capiznons to represent them in the first and second congressional districts in the House of Representatives, respectively.
“The people have spoken. Whoever wins is ultimately the voice of the people. We should learn to accept and respect the results. That’s democracy in action,” Villanueva said.
She also advised those who were unable to register and failed to cast their votes to wait for the announcement of the Comelec central office for the resumption of registration.
“Let us realize the importance of exercising this right that we have. A few months after election, the registration will also resume so as always let us not wait for the last few days to register,” she added. (PNA)
