Espino buries rival in avalanche of votes in Pangasinan

Re-electionist Gov. Amado T. Espino rode on the crest of an avalanche of votes that buried his rival in the race for governorship in Pangasinan, precinct tally sheets canvassed by the Municipal Board of election Inspectors (MBEI) in 44 towns and three cities collected as of 2 pm today had shown.

Espino romped off with a total of 699,573 votes, almost three times those cast in favor of Alaminos Mayor Hernani Braganza at 237,109 votes in total unofficially count from 44 towns and three cities in Pangasinan.

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) in Pangasinan recorded a low turn-out of voters of 59.9 percent actually casting their ballots  out  of 1.5 million  registered voters in the province. Cast votes added up to about 936,682.

Votes cast for both gubernatorial candidates totaled 893,196 leaving just about 20,000 votes to be counted.

Espino buried Braganza with a 462,464 margin, sealing his win short of official confirmation by the COMELEC.

In the contest for vice governorship, re-electionist Ferdinand Calimlim collected a commanding 575,664 votes against  former PNP chief Arturo Lomibao's  244,544  votes, posting an equally comfortable cushion for a sure victory.

District results confirmed an earlier survey that Braganza, a former congressman of the first district of Pangasinan, put up a valiant fight in his home district but still lost by a range of 40-60 in favor of Espino.

In Alaminos City where Braganza was an incumbent mayor, Espino shoveled in 8,969 votes while the mayor pocketed only 5,954 votes.

The beating was worse in the town of Asingan, home of Braganza's uncle, former President Fidel Ramos, where he got only 6,675 votes against Espino's 18,937 votes.

In five other congressional districts, Espino earned a low of 71 percent to a high of 79 percent of all the votes, leaving the contender to lose in all districts except in one remote town.