Marañon leads by wide margin
Lacson ahead in race for vice guv
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Reelectionist Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. of the United Negros Alliance and Nationalist People's Coalition vice gubernatorial bet Eugenio “Bong” Lacson took early leads in yesterday polls.

Partial unofficial results showed Alfredo Marañon Jr. (UNA) with 314,011 votes giving him a lead of 106,495 over Genaro Alvarez Jr. (NPC) who had 207,516 votes.

Vice governor bet Eugenio Lacson (NPC) garnered 228,284 or a lead of 6,684 over Melvin Ibañez (NPC) who had 221,600 votes.

Bing, Monico
headed for win
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO & LISA GAPAC

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia, former Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella and former councilor Greg Gasataya took early leads in the race for congressman, mayor and vice mayor receptively in Bacolod City based on a partial unofficial count of GMA representing 84.88 percent of Bacolod City election returns.

Leonardia of the Nationalist People's Coalition – Grupo Progreso garnered 81,171 votes over incumbent Bacolod Rep. Anthony Rolando Golez Jr. who got 51,040 votes, former councilor Lyndon Caña with 30,963 and Ely Sergio Palma with 340 votes.

For the mayoralty race, Puentevella of Pamilya MKK garnered 90,299 votes over Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson who got 77,866.

Polls violence-free
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

The elections in Negros Occidental appeared to be violence-free, with no untoward incident recorded as of last night, especially in the 13 towns and cities in the province included in the election watchlist areas of the Philippine National Police.

A day before the election, however, two shooting incidents were reported in two hinterland sitios of Moises Padilla town, although no one was hurt, police records show.

Two gun ban violators were intercepted at a Comelec checkpoint in Hinobaan, Negros Occidental.