Candidates allied with President Duterte are poised to win all but two gubernatorial races across the archipelago, reflecting the widespread support enjoyed by the 74-year-old tough-talking chief executive.
Duterte’s PDP-Laban is winning 41 of 81 provinces with National Unity Party (NUP) and Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) set to win in eight provinces each, according to the unofficial tally of ABS-CBN Halalan 2019.
Nacionalista Party, which like NUP and NPC support the administration, has candidates winning in seven provinces.
“We can attribute this to the people’s support to Duterte’s programs,” said outgoing Rep. Ben Evardone who ran and won as governor of Eastern Samar under PDP-Laban.
Among the PDP-Laban candidates winning in their respective areas are Arthur Defensor Jr. in Iloilo, Jun Ebdane in Zambales, Dodo Mandanas in Batangas and Arthur Yap in Bohol.
Outgoing Senator Chiz Escudero, running under the NPC banner, is set to be proclaimed Sorsogon governor.
There are three independent candidates leading the race in their respective provinces. They are Manuel Mamba in Cagayan, Douglas Cagas in Davao del Sur and Nonoy Evan Contreras in Capiz.
All are perceived to be supporters of the administration.
Only two provinces voted opposition.
Liberal Party bets Marilou Cayco and Kaka Bag-Ao are winning in Batanes and Dinagat Islands, respectively.
Eight candidates ran unopposed.
They are Eleanor Bulut-Begtang of Apayao (PDP-Laban), Jayvee Tyron Uy (HNP) of Compostela Valley, Claude Bautista (HNP) of Davao Oriental, Wilson Dayanghirang (NP) of Davao Oriental, Matthew Marcos Manotoc (NP) of Ilocos Norte, Edwin Ong Ongchuan (NUP) of Northern Samar, Dax Cua (PDP-Laban) of Quirino and Susan Yap (NPC) of Tarlac. (Charissa Atienza)
