MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews / May 14) – Three out of every four registered voters in Bukidnon took the pains of going out and falling in the long lines on May 10 to vote for their new leaders.
About 550,098 out of 730,867 registered voters, or 75.3 percent, went to vote in Bukidnon’s 1,029 clustered precincts on the historic May 10 automated national and local elections.
About 180,769 voters failed to vote in Bukidnon on May 10.
It rained on election in most parts of Bukidnon. Many members of the BEIs noted the chaos in queues started when the rain fell. Some of those who broke the line to seek shelter did not come back when they saw the disorder with inconsistencies in issuing priority numbers.
The total number of voters is number is divided into three districts with the first district, composed of the towns of Malitbog, Talakag, Libona, Sumilao, Manolo Fortich, Pangantucan and Kalilangan, having the highest voter turnout at 80.14 percent.
Of the district’s 205,271 registered voters about 164,516 actually voted. The first district is bailiwick of the Acostas, but Acosta matriarch lost in her recent bid for a congressional seat.
Former Agriculture Sec. Jesus Paras won with 76,432 votes over re-electionist Candido Pancrudo Jr. of Lakas Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-Kampi CMD). Pancrudo got 50,149 votes losing to a margin of 26,283 votes.
The third district came second in terms of voter turnout. Of the 233,181 registered voters, 176,737 actually voted or a 75.8 percent turn-out.
The district bailiwick of the Zubiris, covers Maramag, Quezon, Don Carlos, Kitaotao, Dangcagan, Kibawe, Damulog and Kadingilan. Re-electionist Jose Ma. “Joey” Zubiri III won landslide
The district with the least turn-out in the province is the second district at 72.2 percent. It is, however, Bukidnon’s vote-rich area. Of the 289,298 registered voters, 208,845 actually voted. It covers the towns of Impasug-ong, Lantapan, San Fernando and Cabanglasan and the cities of Malaybalay and Valencia.
Administration bet and former Malaybalay City Mayor Florencio T. Flores won the congressional race in the area over four other opponents.
Former President Joseph Estrada and Sen. Manuel Roxas III obtained the highest number of votes in Bukidnon.
The Pwersa ng Masa’s Estrada got a total of 200,449 or 39.41 percent of the total votes cast while Liberal Party standard-bearer Aquino only got 157,417 votes or 30.95 percent of the votes cast.
Roxas, who places second in the continuing national tally, ranked first in Bukidnon, getting 198,318 votes or 41.36 percent of votes cast. Estrada’s running mate Jejomar Binay had 170,290 votes or 35.5 percent. (Walter I. Balane / Mindanews)
