* Three incumbent congressmen win
*Â Balite wins vice governor vs. Lim
 Gov. Edgar M. Chatto will now be serving his last term as provincial governor after he won in last Monday’s elections together with other 31 mayors (out of 48) in this predominantly administration Liberal Party bailiwick province.
Meanwhile, City Mayor John Gessnell Yap almost made a 10-0 slate at the Sanngguniang Panlungsod when he also got re-elected in a sweeping majority vote.
Chatto won against Loay Mayor May Imboy (PDP-Laban) by a huge margin of 108,529 votes after the former pooled 330,751 against the latter’s 222,222 votes. Other gubernatorial candidates Wenceslao Garcia (Ind.) got 9,917 votes, Kary Balagosa, 2,526 and Fer Gaudicos (KBL) 1,295 votes. The re-elected governor won in 42 towns (out of 47) while Imboy won in her hometown Loay as well as in Carmen, Talibon, Mabini and San Isidro.
Chatto’s consistent running mate, Vice Gov. Concepcion Lim, in a one-on-one match with her political arch rival, Board Member Dionisio Balite (PDP-Laban) lost by 21,075 votes. Balite garnered 277,199 votes against Lim’s 256,124 votes.
First District Rep. Rene Relampagos won by a landslide victory of 140,993 votes or 79.74% against Joahna Cabalit-Initay (UNA) 26,668 votes and Cresencio Alturas (PDP-Laban) 9,148 votes.
Second District Rep. Aris Aumentado was re-elected after he defeated Board Member Gerry Garcia by a margin of 84,628 votes. The second termer solon got 134,537 against Garcia’s 49,909.
What was perceived to be a bell-to-bell congressional race in the third district did not come out as expected after re-electionist Rep. Arthur Yap won in 17 towns (out of 19) against former Carmen Mayor Che de los Reyes. Yap pooled 121,854 votes while de los reyes got 90,973 votes winning only in her hometown Carmen and Anda.
Meanwhile, the 10-man slate at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan is composed of seven from the Liberal Party and three from the opposition block.
Re-elected board members are Benjie Arcamo (109,556), Abel damalerio (103,283), Tommy Abapo ( 86,000), and Elpidio Jala (82,104). The six newcomers are Ricky Masamayor (85,821), Nino Rey Boniel (67,064), Agapito Avenido (52,902), Alexie Tutor (113,845), Victor Balite (101,223) and Jade Bautista (96,227).
The LP mayors elected were Epren Tungol (Alburquerque)(, Marnilou Ayuban (Alicia) Joe Mario Pahang (Antequera), Benny Uy (Baclayon), Antonio Jumawid (Batuan), Norman Palacio (Bilar), Nelson Yu (Calape), Toper Tutor (Candijay), Virgilio Lurot (Catigbian), Allen Ray Piezas,(Clarin), Lynn Iven Lim (Cortes), Miriam Sumaylo (Dauis), Connie Amparo (Diero), Roygie Jumamoy (Inabanga), Bicbic Abrenella (Jagna), Rina Salazar (Lila), Elvi Relampagos (Loon), Juanito Jamoya (Mabini), Mer Arocha (Maribojoc), Nila Montro( Panglao), Eping Estavilla (Pres Garcia), Ricardo Suarez (Sagbayan), Manay Mendez (San Miguel), Jose Ellorimo, Jr (Sikatuna), Toting Austero (Talibon), Judith Cajes (Trinidad), William Jao (Tubigon) and Maria Katrina Lim (Valencia).
Meantime, PDP-Laban’s Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte pooled 45.43% of the Boholano electorates to lead in the presidential race here. LP’s Rep. Leni Robredo won the vice presidency while Senator Franklin Drilon led the senatorial race. (See: separate story)
MASSIVE VOTEÂ BUYING
Last Monday’s election was marred with massive vote buying making the province as one of the country’s provinces where buying of votes is not only rampant but relatively high and expensive.
Some mayoralty bets budgeted P1,000 to P3,000 per voters while the congressional race in the third district was monitored to be “most expensive” as far as buying of votes is concerned.
De los Reyes who started early her campaign trail spent millions after leaders of re-electionist Yap were literally bought even at the start of the campaign.
But despite the massive vote buying in the province, there has been no reported formal complaint filed with the Commission on Election, according to Provl Comelec Supervisor Jerome Brillantes.
PEACEFUL POLLS
The entire province conducted a peaceful electoral process last Monday.
PNP Prov’l Director Dennis Agustin congratulated his men for a job well done in maintaining peace and order during the election.
Brillantes likewise confirmed to The Chronicle that last Monday’s polls was generally smooth and peaceful aside from some technical concerns on the malfunctioning of the voting machines. He said the 24 machines which were on stand were delivered after some machines conked out.
DELAYEDÂ CANVASSING
 What could be considered as technical glitches in the canvassing of votes by the provincial board of canvassers after the May 9 elections delayed the canvassing held at Capitol’s session hall and proclamations of local officials-elect in this town and some winners in provincial level.
Candidates, including reelected Mayor Regina Salazar and company, had to wait two days after the voting last Monday after the SD card of a precinct in barangay Macalingan malfunctioned.
Resource officer Sergio Cagaanan yesterday said that the Comelec here had to secure the SD card from Manila central office because the “extra†SD cards as contingency bogged down.
The SD cards arrived Wednesday afternoon, barangay chairman Calcerino Olmos said in an interview while he was witnessing the feeding of each ballot to the VCM of his barangay. He said that there were 339 registered voters but only 302 actually voted.
It will be recalled that the provincial board of canvassers (PBOC) suspended the proclamations of the remaining local winners in Monday’s elections, provincial election supervisor and PBOC chair Atty. Jerome Brillantes, who presided over the canvassing held at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan session hall said.
The Provinial Board of Canvass (PBOC) encountered problems of transmission of poll results from at least two towns of Alicia and Antequera due to poor signal in those places.
Aside from the SD broke cards in this town, Sierra-Bullones town also encountered similar problem of SD cards but a day after it was fixed.
Earlier or during the voting day, two of the VCMs in barangays of Buenavista town were replaced with contingency ones for they did not function, according to vice-mayor-elect Atty. Dave Duallo in exclusive interview.
In Garcia-Hernandez town, some ballots were rendered invalid due to ink stains, Comelec said.