LINGAYEN–Pangasinan’s new governor-elect Amado Espino Jr. considers his victory, which ended the 27-year rule of the Agbayani family, as “very sweet”.

“This is a very sweet victory for me. Together, we did what many thought was an impossible mission,” Espino told The PUNCH.

He expressed elation that the electorate supported his battlecry to have a real Pangasinense lead the province.

Espino, currently the congressional representative for the 3rd district, could have easily clinched a re-election bid for his third and final term but he chose to present himself as an alternative to the Agbayanis.

Before a cheering crowd that filled the provincial Capitol building here for the proclamation of Espino, his supporters hailed his election through songs, dances, high fives, thumbs up and victory signs and tears.

“I am humbled by the honor you gave me,” he told his supporters.

He vowed to work doubly hard to bring real progress to Pangasinan by implementing the platform of government he outlined during the campaign.

The retired police colonel, a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy, said the lack of economic progress in the province, despite its vast resources, prompted him to run for governor.

Shortly after his promulgation, he extended his hands of reconciliation and friendship to his rivals.

To underscore his convincing win, Espino got 16,567 votes against 14,780 votes of his opponent, Dr. Eloise Agbayani, wife of the incumbent governor, in this town, hometown of the Agbayanis. In Espino’s hometown of Bautista, he got 9,439 votes against Agbayani’s 1,284 votes.

Overall, Espino received 427,364 votes in the 6,836 precincts in the province, posting a margin of 36,087 votes over Agbayani.

Vice Governor Oscar Lambino, who also ran for governor and got 97,675, had conceded defeat even before the official tally was completed. 

Espino’s running mate, Board Member Marlyn Agabas, also won as vice governor.

The Agbayanis, however, have maintained silence and refused to issue any statement.

For 27 years, the Agbayani family had been at the helm of this premier province and won consistently with a landslide margin every elections.

Espino ran under the Kabalikat ng Mamayang Pilipino party while Agbayani was an independent candidate whose husband is provincial co-chairman of the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats. 

But while Mrs. Agbayani did not succeed in her gubernatorial quest, Governor Agbayani was elected as representative of the second district. The governor’s brother, former Sual town Mayor Louie Agbayani, also failed in his comeback bid.

BOARD MEMBERS

Meanwhile, in the provincial board members’ race, the following won: Alicia Pulido and Danilo Dizon (first district), Von Mark Mendoza and Nestor Reyes (second district), Angel Baniqued and Romeo Dadacay (third district), Liberato Villegas and Jeremy Agerico Rosario (fourth district), Charizzma Salud Carancho and Danilo Uy (fifth district) and Tyrone Agabas and Alfonso Bince (sixth district).

Re-elected congressmen were Arthur Celeste, House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., Mark Cojuangco, and Conrado Estrella III for first, fourth, fifth and sixth districts, respectively, while newly-elected congressmen were Agbayani and Rachel Arenas for second and third districts, respectively.—EVA

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