CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — The Commission on Elections on Friday officially proclaimed 1st and 2nd District Representatives Carmelo “Jonjon” Lazatin and Mikey Arroyo, respectively, during simple rites held at the Benigno Aquino Hall, provincial capitol compound.
Lawyer Fernando Cot-om presided the ceremony with members of the provincial COMELEC Board.
Cot-om blamed defective security data (SD) cards as the main cause in the delay of proclamation of winning candidates. He cited the Magalang town [Pampanga] case as an example where canvassing of votes encountered difficulties due to problematic SD cards.
The canvassing of votes in Magalang town, Cot-om said, was completed only early morning of Friday (May 17).”We immediately proceeded with the proclamation”.
Magalang is part of Pampanga’s first district.
Declared winner with a very slim margin is Romy Pecson (PFP) with 27,166 votes as against incumbent Malu Lacson (KMBLN) 27,139.
Cot-om said a total of 75 SD cards have been found to be defective across the province during the election day but were quickly replaced by COMELEC technical support group.
Arroyo on the other hand was proclaimed ahead of Lazatin.
“Sports, sport lang,” thus said Lazatin when asked for his reaction after he defeated twice coach Yeng Guiao of Philippine Basketball Association NLEX.
Guiao tasted his first loss to Lazatin during the 2016 presidential elections and latest was the recent political exercises on May 13.
Lazatin said he will focus on the improvement of delivery of basic services, education and other government programs and projects for his constituents. He expressed thanks to his supporters who brought him to another term in Congress.
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa mga taong patuloy na sumuporta at nagtitiwala sa aking kakayahan,” said Lazatin. –Jess Malabanan