Zubiri topped the senatorial race here with 328, 970 votes, followed by former senator Loren Legarda (GO) with 202,589 and Sorsogon Rep. Francis Escudero (GO) with 179,253.
Bukidnon, among the vote-richest provinces in Mindanao, has 601,082 registered voters.
Two other Mindanawon bets, lawyer Aquilino Pimentel III (GO) and Surigao Rep. Prospero Pichay (TU) also made it to the top 12 in the province.
Escudero was followed by Manuel Villar (GO) 157, 366; Panfilo Lacson (GO) 151, 424; Francis Pangilinan (Ind.) 145, 911; Aquilino Pimentel III (GO) 139, 628; Prospero Pichay (TU) 134, 071; Antonio Trillanes IV (GO) 127, 997; Benigno Aquino III (GO) 126, 886; Gregorio Honasan ( Ind) 123, 193; Edgardo Angara (TU) 117, 497; GO's Alan Cayetano, Mike Defensor (TU), Cesar Montano (TU), Ralph Recto (TU), Joker Arroyo (TU), John Osmeña (GO), Vic Magsaysay (TU), Sonia Roco (GO), Vicente Sotto III (TU), Nikki Coseteng (GO).
Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson (TU), who topped the race in Maguindanao province, ranked 23rd here, scoring 265 votes more than tail ender Sultan Jamalul Kiram (TU).
There were 37 candidates for senators.
Zubiri's votes outnumbered that of his father, incumbent Gov. Jose Ma. R. Zubiri, Jr. (323,238) who won by a wide margin over his lone opponent, 1st district Rep. Juan Nereus Acosta (70,993).
A Teacher, the party-list group styled as representing the plight of teachers in the country, topped the party-list contest in the province with 15,288 as three anti-Arroyo party-list also made it to the top 10 here.
Following is the rest of the top 10: Coop Natco (15, 036); Bayan Muna (10, 742); ABA AKO (10, 148); ANAD (8, 211); Anak Mindanao (7, 279); Arts, Business and Science Professionals (7090); Angat Tayo (3, 913); Anak Pawis (3, 703) and Akbayan (3016).
About one of two, however, who voted for Zubiri in Bukidnon did not vote for a party-list. According to the Comelec tally, the total votes for party lists was computed at 164, 792, just a few votes more than half of those who voted Zubiri.
More votes went to Zubiri, Legarda, and Escudero than the total votes counted for any party-list group. (Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)