CABUGAO, Ilocos Sur (Dec. 26) — Seven months athe May 14 polls, the regional trial court here affirmed Cabugao town Mayor Diocaesar S. Suero and his Vice-mayor Rex Augustus S. Morales as elected officials during the tightly contested elections here.

Separate election protests filed against the two by mayoralty bet Amelia Amparo Sunio-Abarquez and her vice mayoralty candidate Edgardo Cobangbang Jr. were also junked.

In the decisions December 21, Judge Francisco Quilala, acting Presiding Judge of RTC Branch No. 24 in Cabugao, Ilocos Sur, both election protests as he Suero and Morales winners in the elections.

“Protestee Diocaesar S. Suero is hereby declared the duly elected mayor of Cabugao, Ilocos Sur, in the May 14, 2007 elections by a plurality of 1,885 votes over Protestant Amelia Amparo Sunio – Abarquez; While, Protestee Rex Augustus S. Morales is hereby declared the duly elected vice-mayor of Cabugao, Ilocos Sur, in the May 14, 2007 elections by a plurality of 116 votes over Protestant Edgardo S. Cobangbang Jr.,” the court decisions said.

After the careful examinations of election returns from the contested precincts, Suero earned a total of 9,084 votes against a total of 7,199 votes Abarquez got or a difference of 1,885 votes in the mayoralty race; while Morales got a total of 8,122 votes against a total of 8,006 votes of Cobangbang or a difference of 116 votes in the vice mayoralty race.

The town board of canvassers credited Suero with 9,380 votes or 2,061 more than the 7,319 votes of Abarquez in the mayoralty race; while Morales earned 8,362 votes or 217 votes more than the 8,145 votes of Cobangbang in vice mayor’s race.

Mayor Suero after the court’s decision called on his opponents for reconciliation “for peace and progress of their town”.

“I am appealing for reconciliation (to our opponents). Let’s unite ourselves for the progress and development,” Suero said. # Ace Alegre for NORDIS