The camp of Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella yesterday claimed that the solon is leading over congressional candidate Renecito Novero while results of Aksyon Radyo's Supercount 2007 showed Novero taking the lead by a small margin.

A text message sent by the Puentevella's camp yesterday said that as of 10 p.m. last night the solon registered 15,044 votes against Novero's 14,301 after Comelec canvass of 244 precincts.

However, Aksyon Radyo's Supercount tally as of 8 p.m. last night covering 395 precincts showed Novero with 24,049 votes as against Puentevella's 22,858 votes. It also showed Andy Hagad with 6,256 votes, Phillen Parreño - 404, Dante Destacamento - 280 and Marcos Templado - 87.

The Comelec also issued a partial official result yesterday covering 187 precincts where Novero had 9,670 votes as against Puentevella's 9,020.

In the Aksyon count, incumbent Mayor Evelio Leonardia had 34,502 votes, Luzviminda Valdez - 16,299, Vicente Ponteras - 2,557, Oscar Verdeflor - 1,028, Joel Dojillo - 703, Jovito Berdin - 264 and Roberto Calaguing - 123.

Vice mayoralty candidates Jude Thaddeus Sayson had 21,715 votes, Lyndon Caña - 19,891, Elmer Sy - 11,729 and Abraham Tingson -188.

In the race for councilor, the top 15 in the Aksyon count as of 8 p.m. are Greg Gasataya - 27,769, Homer Bais - 25,211, Jocelle Batapa-Sigue - 24,111, Wilson Gamboa Jr. -23,324, Dindo Ramos - 22,812, Napoleon Cordova - 21,508, Al Victor Espino - 20,964, Roberto Rojas - 20,160, Celia Flor - 20,114, Catalino Alisbo - 19,884, Alex Paglumotan - 18,709, El Cid Familiaran - 18,255, Reynold Iledan - 17,533, Bobbie Lucasan - 16,967 and Loreto Dilag - 16,762.

Meanwhile, Novero said he could not stop Puentevella from saying he is winning but advised that they should wait for the official result and listen to the declaration of the Comelec. No doubt we will come to a conclusive point in the canvassing where the Comelec will proclaim the winner, he added.

Novero said that, considering the small margin, you can expect a roller coaster appearance of figures. He said there might be a time when he is ahead in the Comelec count and there might be a time when Puentevella will overtake him, until the final count is over and the winner is proclaimed.

Novero said he believes Puentevella wants to confuse the people and he is creating a scenario so he can later on do some kind of movement where he can question the integrity of the process and the official declaration of the Comelec.

In a press statement he issued the DAILY STAR Tuesday, Puentevella assured his supporters of a third term as he claimed he has widened his lead over his rival by as much as 2,182 votes in the latest count based on Lakas-CMD copy of the official election returns as the dominant majority party.

Novero said Puentevella is scenario-making so he can say they have records that he won and all of a sudden he will say he has been cheated if someone else will be proclaimed the winner. He should show his records and we know the very result of their own tabulation, he said.

"When I ran, I considered this a crusade because I knew from the start this would be an uphill climb, considering I am running against an incumbent congressman who has much money and is perceived to be very close to the President," Novero said.

Asked if he is confident he will be the next congressman of Bacolod, Novero said "I have a strong faith, even from the beginning, that by heaven's mercies, I would be the next congressman."

All this was part designed by heaven he said, adding, "He who exalts himself will be abased but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

"My advice to all concerned is let's be humble in our victory and gracious in our defeat because these are all matters of governance," Novero said.

Novero yesterday thanked all the people of Bacolod and also God for a peaceful election in the city. " I am just hopeful and I am praying to God that the integrity of the result will be faithfully recorded and announced and the winner accordingly proclaimed," he said.*CGS

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