By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer are expected to retain their posts as the leaders of the provincial government as both maintain huge leads against their opponents in the national and local elections.

As of 11:00 p.m. yesterday, Lacson has garnered a whopping 729,154 votes against his main opponent, former Bacolod City congressman and former city administrator Atty. John Orola, who only got 45,993 votes.

The situation with Ferrer is also the same with the vice governor getting 639,415 votes against opponent Jonry Gargarita who got only 55,176 votes.

For congressmen of the province’s six legislative districts, first district Congressman Ginggo Valmayor, second district Congressman Thirdy Marañon, fourth district Congresswoman Juliet Marie Ferrer, and sixth district Congresswoman Mercedes Alvarez are running unopposed and have already secured their victories.

For the third congressional district, Francis “Kiko” Benitez is expecting a reelection for the second term in office after garnering 174,921 votes against opponent Toto Bernard Ferraris who got 14,672 votes.

In the fifth district, meanwhile, former Sugar Regulatory Administration board member, Atty. Emilio Dino Yulo, is expecting a win in the district as he takes a lead against incumbent Congresswoman Marilou Arroyo with 89,232 to 56,407./DGB, WDJ