The wife of the congressional bet of Siquijor province, who died of heart attack eve of the elections yesterday, has been named the substitute candidate of the Liberal Party.

Siquijor Acting Provincial Elections Supervisor Eliseo Labaria said Marie Anne Pernes, 48, substituted for her husband, Dr. Jose Jay Pernes, 49, who succumbed to a heart failure at around 3 p.m. Sunday.

Labaria said Mrs. Pernes was able to comply with the prerequisites of the Commission on Elections as substitute candidate, and votes cast for Dr. Pernes will be counted in her favor.

Meanwhile, polling in the island-province of Siquijor in Central Visayas is proceeding smoothly, Labaria said.

Voting centers opened at 7 a.m., although there were some hitches, like minor technical problems of some Precinct Count Optical Scan machines that malfunctioned, but corrections were made immediately, he said.

Labaria said the Comelec expects about 80 percent turnout of voters in Siquijor.

The province has 64,000 registered voters.*JFP

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