Two candidates vying for the barangay captain position in the village of Cabawan in Maribojoc drew lots to determine the victor after both garnered exactly the same number of votes during the nationwide polls on Monday.

Barangay Captain Doroteo Garsuta on Wednesday officially kept his post after picking three of six rolled papers with higher numbers compared to the three pieces of paper taken by his opponent, Marcial Quiwag.

Garsuta picked up the numbers 6, 5 and 3 for a total of 14 while Quiwag got 1, 2 and 4 for a total of 7.

Prior to the drawing of lots, Garsuta and Quiwag who both garnered 426 votes each during the elections decided how to choose the winner between them at the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) office in Maribojoc.

According to municipal DILG officer Franklin Medequizo, candidates can resolve a tie through a toss coin and two types of drawing lots—using six pieces of rolled paper with the numbers 1 to 6 written on each or using two pieces of paper with “loser” and “winner” written on them.

Per election rules, candidates are given five days to settle a tie between or among candidates.

It was the first time in Maribojoc that candidates for barangay captain earned the same number of votes, said Medequizo.

Barangay Cabawan is the second largest village in Maribojoc with 1,016 voters. (A. Doydora)