The Commission on Elections in Bacolod City proclaimed the winning candidates at the BAYS Center Saturday afternoon amidst tight security and cheers and boos from both opposing camps.

Lakas-CMD bet Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella was proclaimed ahead of Mayor Evelio Leonardia of the Nationalist People's Coalition and members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, which was dominated by the NPC party.

Puentevella registered 75,918 votes over his rival Renecito Novero (NPC) who had 74,897, while Leonardia (NPC) had 109,789 votes over Luzviminda Valdez (Lakas-CMD) who had 54,377.

Puentevella's supporters who were in one side of the Center, chanted "MONICO, MONICO" when he entered the jampacked BAYS Center at about 5: 20 p.m. with his wife and four children, while NPC supporters on the other side chanted BALDOG! BALDOG! and "MONEY KO, MONEY KO" and tossed empty plastic bottles inside the canvassing area. Puentevella hugged all his lawyers before he was proclaimed by Bacolod COMELEC registrar Mavil Majarucon in the presence of his family.

"BALDOG" CHANT

When he left the BAYS Center together with his supporters, the NPC supporters chanted louder "BALDOG! BALDOG"!

"BALDOG" is supposed to be an acronym enumerating the alleged scams his opponent listed against Puentevella, whose supporters quickly left the area with him.

Leonardia came in with his team at about 6 p.m., as his supporters cheered and played his campaign jingle.

Proclaimed with Leonardia was Jude Thaddeus Sayson (NPC) who had 70,223 against Lyndon Caña's (Ind.) 64,699 for the position of vice mayor.

All the winning councilors of the NPC together with two Independent candidates were also proclaimed by the COMELEC Saturday.

They are Greg Gasataya (NPC) who had 89,513 votes, Homer Bais (NPC) - 82,637, Jocelle Batapa-Sigue (Ind.) - 81,340, Dindo Ramos (NPC) - 79,046, Wilson Gamboa Jr. (NPC) - 77,183, Al Victor Espino (NPC) - 68.660, Napoleon Cordova (NPC) - 68,378, Celia Flor (Ind.) - 65,441, Roberto Rojas (NPC) - 64,261 and Alex Paglumotan (NPC) - 59,751.

Catalino Alisbo who had 65,129 votes and Reynold Iledan who had 59,551, both of the Lakas-CMD, Performance Team, were also proclaimed but were not present.

RECORD BREAKING

The 109,789 received by Leonardia is believed to be the biggest ever gathered by any candidate in the city and his lead of 55,412 over his opponent, Valdez, who got 54,377, also the biggest, and broke his own record of leading by about 33,000 the first time he ran for mayor.

Majarucon said only 162,263 voted out of the 253,615 registered voters in Bacolod City, which is about 63.9 percent. She said that in 2004 there was a 70 percent turn-out.

Bacolod police director Senior Supt. Ronilo Quebrar arrived at the BAYS Center ahead of the candidates and stayed until after the proclamation. Deputy police director for operations Senior Supt. Leo Agpangan said they deployed about 115 policemen at the BAYS Center.

The board of canvassers was headed by Majarucon with Antonio Kho and Armando Abanado as members.*CGS

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