Senatorial candidates Francis "Chiz" Escudero (GO), Loren Legarda (GO), Miguel Zubiri (TU) and Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III (GO) yesterday thanked Bacoleños and Negrenses for voting them into the top slots in the Senate race in Bacolod and Negros Occidental, and vowed to reciprocate this by fulfilling their campaign promises.

In Bacolod City, Escudero was in the number one slot while in the Negros Occidental tally covering 31 towns and cities he was in number three.

Legarda was number one in Negros Occidental and in fourth place in the Bacolod count.

Zubiri, who has roots in Negros Occidental, was in number two in the provincial count and in fifth place in Bacolod City.

Aquino was number two in Bacolod City and number four in the Negros Occidental count.

"Thank you very much for the support and for believing in me, I will do my best to prove that that trust given me is not for naught," Escudero said.

Escudero told the DAILY STAR he will fulfill his campaign promise to explore ways to help people find jobs in areas where they live, increase their earning capacities, and limit the increase in the prices of basic needs.

He also said he will also oppose the imposition of any new taxes and instead help legislate measures to improve the collection of already existing taxes.

Legarda thanked the people of Negros Occidental for the overwhelming mandate they gave her, and the officials of Negros Occidental and her partymates for protecting her votes.

She cited Gov. Joseph Marañon and his son, Sagay Vice Mayor Joseph Gerard Marañon, and the mayors of the province for their help.

Legarda told the DAILY STAR she will fulfill her promise to fight for issues concerning agriculture in the Senate and tackle concerns of the sugar industry raised with her during her visits to Negros Occidental.

I will try to live up to the high expectations of the people, she said.

Both Legarda and Ecudero are vying for the number one slot in the national tally of the senate votes.

Zubiri said he is confident he will make it to the 10th or 11th slot in the Senate based on election returns being canvassed "as long as nobody does a Harry Potter on my votes."

Harry Potter is the boy wizard in the JK Rowling series with magic powers.

Zubiri said he is thanking his "kasimanwas" for their overwhelming show of support for him.

I will repay it by focusing on rural development and by finding other alternatives for the sugar industry, he said.

Zubiri, while congressman, authored the Bio-Fuels Act in the House that makes it mandatory to blend bio-fuels, including ethanol from sugarcane, with regular gas.

Zubiri, who is thinking of buying a house in Negros Occidental to make the province his second home, said he will be honored to fight for the causes of the province in the Senate.

Aquino said he was very glad and thankful for the votes he garnered in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City. "It is a tribute to the people who supported me," he said.

"Hopefully my ranking in the national tally does not change so I can begin serving and the dreams that went with that overwhelming support will be realized," he said.

Meanwhile, Senator Mar Roxas yesterday called on all citizens to maintain and intensify their vigilance to ensure that each and every vote is counted properly.

"All of us are interested in seeing our votes properly counted and canvassed, and our true will proclaimed," he said.

"Let's us stay vigilant. Let us not allow those who are desperate to be in power to tamper with the polls' results to their favor and get away with it," he added. At the same time, he commended the people and the groups who have worked to safeguard ballots.*CPG

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