TACLOBAN CITY- Former Northern Samar governor, Paul Daza, was elected as congressman of the province’ first congressional district.
Daza clobbered an old political rival, Harlin Abayon, to win the congressional race by almost 60,000 votes.
Daza, who was the governor of the province from 2010 to 2013, obtained 116,209 votes against former congressman Abayon (Nationalista Party) who only garnered 59,685 votes.
Daza together with Samar Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento (1st district) were the only members of the Liberal Party in the region to get elected during the May 13 balloting.
Abayon was defeated by Daza’s father Raul during the 2016 elections as congressman.
The elder Daza is on his third and last term as congressman representing Northern Samar’s first congressional district which covers 14 towns which include Catarman, the provincial capital.
Meantime, Abayon’s son, Rep.Harlin Neil Abayon III also lost on his reelection bid as their party-list group Aangat Tayo failed to gather votes to earn a seat at the House of Representatives.
Also elected were Rep. Edwin Ongchuan as governor of the province, Vice Governor Gary Lavin who was reelected and outgoing Gov. Jose Ong who was elected as congressman representing the province’s second district.
The newly-elected officials of the province were proclaimed by the members of the Provincial Board of Canvassers as winners on May 16. (JOEY A. GABIETA/PETER D.PAREDES)
