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By Anthony Vargas, Reporter
The Commission on Elections (Comelec)
on Wednesday proclaimed the winning candidates in the recently
concluded automated voting in the Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao (ARMM).
Comelec Chairman Jose Melo said
the polls were “the first fraud-free exercise in more than half a
century” and marked “the first time that election results have
been uncontested.”
The proclamation, which came two
days after the August 11 polls, was the fastest-ever in the history
of the regional elections, Comelec officials said during a press
briefing.
Teofisto Elnas, the chief of the
Regional Board of Canvassers, proclaimed Datu Zaldy Puti Uy Ampatuan
as ARMM governor and Ansaruddin-Abdul Malik Alonto as vice-governor.
Both had sought reelection.
Election figures released by the
Comelec showed that Ampatuan garnered a total of 693,000 votes or
about 91.97 percent of the 896,668 votes cast.
His closest rival, Indanan Mayor
Alvarez Isnaji, received 17,973 votes or 2.36 percent of total votes
cast. Isnaji is detained in connection with the abduction of a TV
crew in June.
Of the other contenders for
governor, Ali Jumadil Omar got 15,433 votes; Guimid Panalangin
Matalam, 10,019; Jupakar Pindah-Asia Arabani, 9,950; Ismael Berto,
5,505; and Ahmad Darping Nooh, 1,625.
Ampatuan’s running mate Alonto
received a total of 668,175 votes or about 91.8 percent of the
total. He was followed by Kadra Asani Masihul with 23,688 votes;
Kursid Hajire Sampang, 19,068; and Ailani Susulan Jr., 16,923.
Melo said that all the winning
candidates for the regional assembly have already been proclaimed by
the local Comelec office.
He added that the Comelec has
successfully conducted automated voting and canvassing in the
provinces of Basilan, Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Shariff Kabunsuan,
Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.
Elected as assemblymen were
Umbrah Ampatuan Datumanong, Khadafeh Gaguil Mangundadatu and Pike
Terando Mentang for Maguindanao; Rajam Mutamad Akbar, Basser Amin
Asarul and Juhan Sabbihi Hataman for Shariff Kabunsuan; Roonie
Quesada, Cahar Pendat Ibay and Abdulradzak Dagalangit Tomawis
for Basilan; Rejie Maquiso Sahali, Mustapha Joe Omar and Nur-Mahadil
Kingking Ahaja for Tawi-Tawi; and Jeha Adiong, Samer Salic and
Suhaylah Salic for the First District of Lanao del Sur; and Rasmia
Salic, Yasser Balindong and Alexander Menor for the Second District
of Lanao del Sur.
--With Aletheia Ordiales, Sarah Jane Lindo And Sharalyn Paguio
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