Gonzalez's P10,000 offer fails to deliver 12-0 vote for TU
Justice Sec. Raul Gonzalez
The P10,000 offer by Justice Sec. Raul Gonzalez failed to deliver a 12-0 landslide win for the administration's Team Unity.
According to the latest tally by the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting- National Movement for Free Elections (PPCRV-Namfrel), some of the Genuine Opposition bets landed in the top 12 in all of the city's six districts.
On a per precinct basis, several GO bets were in the top 12. Gonzalez had earlier offered a P10,000 reward for the City's punong barangays who can deliver a 12-0 victory for the TU in their areas. The offer stirred up a controversy.
The Commission on Election said that they are monitoring barangay officials who might receive the cash reward.
As of May 17, six bets from the pro-administration Team Unity made it to the lucky 12, five from the GO, and an independent candidate.
According to the PPCRV-Namfrel combined tally for the city and the province, reelectionist Sen. Manny Villar of GO leads in the senatorial race, with 127, 687 votes.
Independent reelectionist, Sen. Francis Pangilinan follows closely at 124, 024 votes. GO candidate and Sorsogon Rep. Francis Escudero is third, with 120, 374 votes. Fellow GO candidate Loren Legarda garnered 114, 028 votes, landing her in the fourth place. Team Unity bet, Michael Defensor is fifth, having earned 113, 078 votes. GO bet Benigno Aquino Jr. is sixth, with 109, 235 votes. With 106, 872 votes, TU candidate, Edgardo Angara is seventh. Fellow TU candidate, Juan Miguel Zubiri is trails behind with 94, 525 votes. Joker Arroyo of TU notched up 93,531 votes, placing him ninth.
At 10th is TU bet Ralph Recto with 86, 719 votes. GO's bet, reelectionist Sen. Panfilo Lacson managed to place 11th with 84, 382 votes. Prospero Pichay clings to 12th place, with 75, 218 votes.