Opposition Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio continues to pile up her lead over boxing icon Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, partial and unofficial results say.
As of 1:18 p.m. yesterday, Custodio garnered 16,755 votes while Pacquiao only got 9,133 in the quick count of the National Citizens Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) held at the Marist-run Notre Dame of Dadiangas College in General Santos City, South Cotabato.
Teodulo Garay, a known inventor, got 96 votes.
Custodio ran under the banner of the Nationalist People’s Coalition and local political party Achievers with Integrity Movement (NPC-AIM).
Pacquiao, the reigning World Boxing Council super featherweight king, was backed by President Arroyo’s party Kabalikat ng Mamamayang Pilipino (Kampi).
In the mayoralty race, incumbent Mayor Pedro Acharon Jr. of NPC-AIM is also leading over former mayor Rosalita Nunez of Kampi and independent candidate Shirlyn Banas-Nograles.
Acharon tallied 17,377 votes while Nunez and Nograles got 6,237 and 2,894, respectively.
Acharon’s running mate, Vice Mayor Florentina Congson, also secured a comfortable lead with her 18,502 votes as against lone rival Francisco Gacal’s 6,590.
The Namfrel tally represents 21.29 percent of the 1,461 precincts in the first district of South Cotabato, which covers General Santos City and the municipalities of Polomolok, Tupi and Tampakan.
Pacquiao, however, says he remains hopeful in his bid for a congressional seat
When asked on Monday night by a reporter about his plans after the election, the boxing icon sounded hopeful and unconceding, “The counting is not yet over.”
He went on radio hours after the polling, thanking his supporters for their votes.
Custodio has protested the inclusion of Pacman’s uncle-in-law in the Board of Canvassers (BoC) but the Commission on Elections (Comelec) proceeded with the canvassing of election returns amid the protes.
The opposition lawmaker earlier filed a petition before the Comelec to compel City Prosecutor Edilberto Jamora to inhibit himself from participating in any of the proceedings of the board of canvassers due to his affinity with Pacquiao.
Jamora, who was appointed as member of the board, is an uncle of the boxing icon’s wife Jinkee.
But Jamora told reporters that he will continue to exercise his functions as a member of the BoC until his appointment is revoked by the Comelec.
He admitted that he is indeed related to Pacquiao’s wife but stressed that their civil affinity is already in the fifth degree.
“The law clearly says that a member of the canvassing body shall not be allowed to participate in any of its proceedings if he or she is related to a candidate up to the fourth degree (of consanguinity),” Jamora said.
Article XIX, Section 222 of the Omnibus Election Code provides that “the chairman and the members of the board of canvassers shall not be related within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity to any of the candidates whose votes will be canvassed by said board, or to any member of the same board.”
The city BoC is composed of the “city election registrar as chairman, the city fiscal and the city superintendent of schools, and one representative from each of the ruling party and the dominant opposition political party entitled to be represented, as members.” PNA
