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Namfrel: GMA wins on Saipan
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Posted on May 13 2004
The final tally of votes in the Philippine absentee voting on Saipan showed incumbent Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo pulling ahead in the presidential polls, based on an unofficial quick count.
The National Movement for Free Elections, a non-profit Philippine election watchdog, released the unofficial result based on its tabulation of its copy of the election returns. As of press time, Namfrel-CNMI chapter chairman Bong Sese said the Board of Canvassers has yet to complete its official tabulation of votes.
Of the 4,740 ballots cast in the Saipan polls, Arroyo got 2,047 votes. Popular Philippine movie actor Fernando Poe Jr. followed next with 1,096 votes.
Another opposition candidate, Sen. Panfilo Lacson, ranked third in the CNMI in the presidential race by getting 645 votes. Former Education Secretary and senator Raul Roco ranked fourth with 461 votes, while religious leader Eddie Villanueva tailed closely with 435 votes.
In the vice presidential race, Noli de Castro pulled away with a big margin over his rival candidates, defeating fellow newsman and senator Loren Legarda. De Castro got 3,183 votes, while Legarda only had 1,383. Behind them were Herminio S. Aquino, who had 83 votes, and Rodolfo T. Pajo, who had 3 votes.
In the senatorial race, former Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim topped the Saipan polls with 3,196 votes. Trade Secretary Mar Roxas, grandson of a former Philippine president, ranked second with 2,925 votes, while Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon followed with 2,742 votes.
The other candidates who made it to the top twelve and their respective votes were: Bong Revilla, 2,655; Orlando Mercado, 2,435; Lito Lapid, 2,336; Robert Barbers, 2,330; Rodolfo Biazon, 2,321; Aquilino Pimentel Jr., 2,298; Miriam Defensor-Santiago, 2,229; Pilar Juliana Cayetano, 1,838; and Boots Anson-Roa, 1,764.
A total of 4,740 out of 7,003 registered Filipino voters cast their ballots at the polling place on Saipan, which translates to a voter turnout of 67.68 percent.
