VIDEO: Coin toss breaks ties in Bocaue Mayoral race

MANILA, Philippines - In a very rare election result for mayoral race in Bocaue, Bulacan, Municipal Board of Canvassers had to resort to a simple game of coin toss to break a tie after candidates received the same number of votes.

Coin toss decides winner in Bocaue's mayoral race. Screengrab from Youtube.

Liberal Party (LP) candidate Joni Villanueva and independent bet Jim Valerio both garnered 16,694 votes. During the best-of-five toss coin, Villanueva, sister of senatorial candidate Joel "Tesdaman" Villanueva, won over rival Valerio.

The Commission on Elections provides a resolution for a "drawing of lots" in case of tie.

It is under the poll body's Resolution 10083 or the General Instruction for the Board of Canvassers on the Consolidation/Canvass and Transmission of Votes specifically Section 11, Letter D-II.

“The board shall, after recording in its minutes the fact of having candidates receiving the same number of votes for the position, immediately notified the said candidates to appear before the Board for drawing of lots to break the tie," the resolution stated.

Watch the video below courtesy of Radyo Inquirer:

Tesdaman's sister wins mayoralty seat via coin toss

MANILA, Philippines – 24 hours have passed after the National Elections, majority of the local municipalities have already declared their winners. It really feels so great whenever the local board of elections raise the winning-candidates’ hands. After the sweat, blood and money spent during the campaign period, finally a taste of sweet triumph for the political victors.

It is so common to see a well-known and highly-favoured politicians win by landslide or huge margin, like people’s choice and un-officially presidential winner, Davao City Mayor Rody Duterte.

Winning by a slim margin is also ordinary in every election. Just like re-electionist Manila City Mayor Joseph Erap Estrada who has edged his arch-rival and former Mayor Alfredo Lim with just a little over 2,000 votes. But a tie in an election? It’s too close to being impossible! Sounds odd and crazy but true!

It’s a tie! Photo Credit: GMA News

In Bocaue Bulacan, two mayoralty bets garnered the same amount of votes after the official automated counting and canvassing. Jim Valerio, an independent candidate had to face Eleanor “Joni” Villanueva of Liberal Party in a very unusual tie-breaker. Both protagonists gained 16,694 votes in the said town.

Left – Jim Valerio Right – “Tesdaman” with his sister and Bocaue Proclaimed Mayor Joni Villanueva

Deogracias Danao, the election officer in-charge of Bocaue informed the public that the election came into draw between Valerio and Villanueva. As per COMELEC rule, i.e. Resolution 10083; In case of a tie, a draw lots must be done in order to break it and determine the winner regardless of the position of the candidates who are running for government office. Instead of draw lots, both parties have agreed to do a “coin toss” as the tie-breaker and deciding factor.

At exactly 11:00PM, both Valerio and Villanueva sent their representatives to the local COMELEC office to witness the unusual rubber-match. Election Officer Danao used a 5 peso coin to determine Valerio and Villanueva’s political fate.

Joni Villanueva, sister of Joel “Tesdaman” Villanueva who’s currently in the 2nd place for the senatorial race picked the “tails” as her choice. Alas! After 3 consecutive flips, Tesdaman’s sister broke the tie and was proclaimed as the new Mayor of Bocaue Bulacan.

Watch: Joni Villanueva Wins the Mayoralty Seat via Coin Toss

Aside from this incident, way back in 2013, the same tie-breaker method was used in San Teodoro, Oriental Mindoro between Marvic Feraren and Salvador Py. Feraren was declared the winner of the said coin toss.

Everyone knows that Sen. Bong Bong Marcos and Cong. Leni Robredo are neck and neck in the Vice Presidential battle. Less than 200,000 votes separate the two officials. Should they end-up in deadlock; will the coin toss matter be applied to them? It should because it’s the election rule. But, it’s not going to be easy, smooth and peaceful. What do you think?

--Joey Boy Capos, The Summit Express

Pastry chef who vowed to give P5M-worth of cakes if Duterte wins will give free cakes

MANILA, Philippines- Back in November 2015, a pastry chef and owner of the Quim’s cake made rounds on social media after airing his negative sentiments against Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Facebook.

Jack Labang, who criticized the outspoken mayor for joining the presidential race despite his earlier claim that he will not run, even vowed to give P5-million-worth of cakes if Duterte wins the presidency.

In his Facebok, he posted: “Pag manalo si Duterte manok nyo guys, gagawa ako ng maraming cakes pinakamasarap sa cakes sa Pilipinas worth 5milyon para ipakain for free siguraduhin nio lang manalo sya. mark my word.”

(If Duterte wins, I will make the most delicious cakes in the Philippines worth P5million and give it for free. Just make sure that he wins.)

In a separate post on Facebook, Labang also lambasted the apparent president calling him a big liar and even challenged him to a fistfight.

He wrote: “Kung gusto mo talaga mamuno sa bansa nasa puso mo, gusto mo, kaya mo, hwag mo gawing dahilan si Poe. Sabi hindi ka tatakbo. You’re a big liar. Hindi ka pa pangulo sinungaling ka na! Suntukan na lang tayo.”

(If you really want to lead the country and it’s in your heart, you want it, you are capable, don’t use Poe as a reason. You said you’re not running. You’re not even the president but you’re already lying. Let’s just have a fistfight.)

Apparently, it looks like Labang may have bit off more than he can chew as Duterte is currently set for a big win in the 2016 presidential race. As all of his rivals have conceded, Duterte’s insurmountable lead in the partial and unofficial results of the elections held on May 9 clearly indicates that he will soon become the 16th President President of the Republic of the Philippines.

Netizens, who seem to be looking forward to see Labang fulfill his promise, have set up an event on Facebook dubbed as “Libreng Cake Mula kay Chef Jack Labang”. As of press time,17,000 netizens are going and 34,000 are interested in the event.

Interestingly, Labang decided to keep his promise by sampling 5 million worth of cakes “to celebrate the election of our new leaders.” Here’s a list of the sampling schedule to be conducted at their shop in 38 Tomas Morato, Quezon City,

--Mini, The Summit Express

Comelec results: Cavite local elections 2016 Winners

MANILA, Philippines - The winners of the 2016 gubernatorial elections in the province of Cavite were proclaimed.

From left: Jesus Crispin Remulla and Jolo Revilla won Cavite's top positions

The vote-rich province in Region 4 has selected its new provincial governor that will serve for three-year term and will be inaugurated on June 30, 2016.

Among the candidates for the gubernatorial race includes Independent candidates Richard Balanzag, Gerbie Ber Ado and Obet Borral and United Nationalist Alliance (UNA)'s Jesus Crispin Remulla.

Former 7th District Representative Jesus Crispin Remulla claimed the gubernatorial position after garnering 94.15-percent or 1,064,734 votes.

Incumbent Jonvic Remulla is originally running for his third and final term. However, he withdrew his candidacy. Jonvic's brother substituted him.

In the vice-governor race, Jolo Revilla topped with 934,301 total votes (81.68%).

Here's the list of proclaimed winners for Cavite as announced by the Comelec:

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Roxas wishes Duterte success as he concedes in presidential race

MANILA, Philippines- Liberal Party standard bearer Mar Roxas has raised the white flag in the 2016 presidential race on Tuesday, May 10 in front of his supporters in his campaign headquarters in Quezon City.

The administration bet has admitted defeat in the 2016 presidential race. PHOTO CREDIT: ABS-CBN News

Visibly emotional but calm, Roxas conceded defeat to the presumptive winner of the presidential election saying the results clearly point victory to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. Although the two rivals had a series of heated exchange during the campaign period, he wished his toughest opponent success.

In his speech, he told his supporters: “Simulan na naten ang pagbuo sa minamahal nateng bansa. Galangin natin ang pasya ng ating kababayan. Ayon sa unofficial count, malinaw sa si Rodrigo Duterte ang magiging susunod na pangulo ng Republika ng Pilipinas. Digong, I wish you success.”

(Let’s start building our beloved country. Let’s respect the decision of our fellow countrymen. Based on the unofficial count, it is clear that Rodrigo Duterte will be the next president of the Republic of the Philippines.)

Watch the video.

Roxas was initially set to hold a media briefing at 11 a.m. but it was postponed at 1 p.m. after meeting with vice presidential frontrunner and running mate, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo.

He also urged supporters and the public to continue monitoring the election results particularly in the vice presidential race where Robredo is engaged in a close fight with Sen. Bongbong Marcos.

"Ngayon, hindi pa tapos ang laban ni Leni. Angat siya. Lumalaban siya. Patuloy tayong magbantay, manalig at sumuporta. Siguraduhin natin na mabibiling ng tama ang kanyang boto,” Roxas said.

(Leni’s fight is not yet over. She’s leading. She’s fighting. Let’s continue monitoring, praying and supporting. Let’s ensure that all her votes are accounted for.)

In what was dubbed as a supreme sacrifice, Roxas set aside his ambition of becoming the President of the country and gave way to Benigno Aquino III, who was a Senator then, in the 2010 National Elections. While Aquino won the 2010 presidency in a landslide victory, Roxas lost to then Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay in the vice presidential race.

--Mini, The Summit Express