MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews / 14 May)— Bukidnon, Mindanao’s vote-richest province, is an Erap and Mar country.
Based on the official tally from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) of the votes canvassed in the province, Joseph “Erap” Estrada topped Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, who is the leading presidential bet on the overall national tally.
Erap Estrada, who is from the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) got a total of 200,449 or
39.41 percent of the total votes cast while Liberal Party standard-bearer Noynoy Aquino only got 157,417 votes (30.95 percent of the votes cast).
Nacionalista Party standard bearer Manuel “Manny” Villar, placed third with 95,039 votes which is 18.69 percent of the votes cast.
Based on the municipal count, Estrada topped all municipalities and cities except Lantapan which voted for Aquino, and municipalities of Kadingilan and Kitaotao which voted for Villar.
In the vice-presidential race, Manuel “Mar” Roxas, who is presently second in the polls, ranked number 1 in Bukidnon. Roxas got 198,318 votes (41.36 percent of votes cast) while Jejomar Binay gained 170,290 votes (35.52 percent) and Loren Legarda garnered 84,462 (17.62 percent).
The top 12 senators elected in Bukidnon are Jinggoy Estrada, Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Teofisto “TG” Guingona III, Nereus “Neric” Acosta Jr, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Juan Ponce Enrile, Sergio Osmeña III, Pilar Juliana “Pia” Cayetano, Franklin Drilon, Ralph Recto, Gwendolyn “Gwen” Pimentel and Manuel “Lito” Lapid.
The top 5 partylist groups which gained the support of Bukidnon were: Atong Paglaum, Abante Mindanao Inc, 1st Consumers Alliance for Rural Energy, Cooperative Natcco Network, Bayan Muna, Abante Tribung Makabansa, Adhikaing Tinataguyod ng Kooperatiba, Katribu Indigenous People’s Sectoral Party, Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption and Akbayan! Citizen;s Action Party.
Bukidnon has 730,867 registered voters, of which 550,098 actual voted, reflecting a 75.27 percent turn-out. (April Rose Torion / MindaNews)
