Lanao Sur elects second woman governor after 4 decades

MARAWI CITY - Lanaodel Sur has elected the province's second woman governor, four decades after pre-martial law Princess Tarhata Alonto-Lucman was catapulted to power as the country's first Muslim woman governor.Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Roberto V. Dela Peña proclaimed Friday Hadja Soraya Alonto-Adiong, as the new governor of Lanao del Sur, replacing her son, Governor Mamintal Bombit” Alonto Adiong, Jr., who also won as her vice-gubernatorial running-mate.Mrs. Alonto garnered 193,420 votes, edging out her closest rival Marawi City Mayor Fahad Pre Salic, got 117,496 votes. Former House Deputy Speaker Pangalian Balindong landed third, receiving his pie-share of Lanao del Sur’s 484,435 registered voters with 85 percent turnout.Dela Peña also proclaimed Governor Adiong, Jr. as the winning vice-governor with 252,590 votes, over former Marantao town Mayor Mohammad-Ali Merikano Abinal, who had 186,474 votes.The 72-year old governor-elect Alonto-Adiong is the niece of the first Muslim Filipino woman governor, Princess Tarhata Alonto-Lucman (1971), and is the daughter of the late Sen. Ahmad Domocao Alonto. She had been married to the late congressman and Governor Mamintal Adiong Sr.Jaynie Alonto-Tamano, provincial information head, said the proclamation took place nearly noontime on May 13, at the Social Hall of the Provincial Capitol Complex in Marawi City. Nash M. Maulana