Slow internet delays proclamation of South Cotabato provincial winners

KORONADAL CITY -- Two days after election, the South Cotabato provincial board of canvassers is yet to proclaim winners for gubernatorial, vice gubernatorial and members of the provincial board and House of Representatives.Blame it to slow internet signal, said Atty. Kendatu Laguialam, South Cotabato provincial election director.Laguialam said the provincial election board of canvassers is still awaiting for transmitted results from the towns of T'boli and Norala.Laguialam said internet signal in T'boli, an upland town in South Cotabato, was very poor and advised the municipal board of canvassers to look for higher grounds where signal is strong so they can transmit results. We are still waiting transmission from T'boli and Norala, he said. We advised the municipal board to look for higher ground with strong internet connection. Laguialam said the provincial board of canvassers has only receive 60 voters out of more than 24,000 votes cast in Norala town. We will proclaim the winners as soon as the provincial canvassing is over anytime today, Laguialam said.Based on Comelec record,Tiboli has 46,075 registered voters, 32,716 of whom cast votes on Monday or 92.31 percent turn out.In Norala, 15,206 of 25,116 registered voters have voted last Monday or 72.50 percent turn out.He said the voters' turnout in South Cotabato was about 75 percent of 724,325 registered voters. The high turn out of voters could be attributed to Duterte's popularity that many went out and vote for him but not on other candidates, this is a theory, Laguialam said.Based on partial and unofficial results (KBP-NDBC), reelectionist Gov. Daisy Avance Fuentes lead the gubernatorial contest with 192,597 votes as against former Koronadal City Mayor Fernando Miguel who got 145,719 votes.