Ibarreta Is No. 1

By Ambrosio R. Villorente

IBARRETA

Atty. Selwyn C. Ibarreta is the number one elected member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Aklan in the May 14, 2007 election. Ibarreta therefore is the senior board member.
This is the result of the computation of the results of the election concerning the SP ranking in Aklan by the Commission on Election.
In a report of Ms. Lorena B. Tumbagahan, acting provincial election supervisor of Aklan, the ranking is as follows: Selwyn C. Ibarreta – 35.22 percent, first; pedro M. Garcia – 33.23 percent, second; Jose S. Yap – 32.97 percent, third; Nemesio P. Neron – 31.85 percent, fourth; Gerick M. Templonuevo – 29.36 percent, fifth; Ramon S. Gelito – 27.17 percent, sixth; Daisy S. Briones –27.12 percent, seventh; Plaridel M. Morania – 26.25 percent, eight; Rodson F. Mayor – 25.87 percent – ninth; and Jean O. Rodriguez – 23.32 percent, tenth.
This ranking is in accordance with article 83 (B) 5 of the Local Government Code of 1991 which is based upon the highest percentage of votes obtained by the respective candidates using the formula total number of registered voters in a municipality, district or province.
For instance Atty. Ibarreta who was a candidate in the western district of Aklan obtained 44, 137 total votes. The total number of registered voters in the western district is 125,308. So that by dividing 44,137 total votes by 125,308 total number of voters is 0.35222811 multiplied by 100 is 35.22 percent.
On the other hand, Mr. Nemesio P. Neron who was a candidate for SP member, eastern Aklan obtained 47,264 votes. However, the total number of voters in the east district is 148,401. Using the same formula, divide 47,264 by 148,401, the total number of voters will give us 0.318488, multiplied by 100 will give us 31. 85 percent. Ibarreta got a higher percentage of votes compared to Neron’s.
This report of the Comelec acting provincial election supervisor of Aklan, has settled the issue as to who is the senior board member of Aklan.
Former Aklan police provincial director and political neophyte Nemesio Neron (Kusog /AIM) claimed he should sit as Senior Board member after he got 47,264 votes, some 3,127 over that of Atty. Selwyn C. Ibarreta who got 44,137 votes only. However, the basis of determining the ranking of the SP member is on the percentage of votes garnered against the total registered voter of their respective districts.
This report of Ms. Tumbagahan finally settles the issue as to who is the Senior Board member of the Sangguniang Pan-lalawigan of Aklan.
This ranking is very important in the implementation of the law of succession in the future. In case the governor’s or the vice governor’s office becomes vacant, the Senior Board member may assume that office without so much problem /MP