CEBU, Philippines – Arthur Yap is leading in a tight race against President Rodrigo Duterte’s former Cabinet Secretary Leoncio “Jun” Evasco Jr. in the gubernatorial race in Bohol.

Yap has a lead of 3,010 votes against Evasco based on results from 93.21% of total polling precincts as of 2:18 pm. The province has almost 800,000 voters.

Yap has 325,242 votes while Evasco has 322,232 votes based on the latest count. (Check the results here.)

Duterte endorsed Evasco but it’s Yap who ran under the administration party PDP-Laban. The President was in Bohol a few days before the elections, on May 8, to campaign for Evasco. It is where he made inappropriate comments about Mayor Tita Gallentes.

Evasco, who managed Duterte’s 2016 presidential campaign, ran under the Nationalist People’s Coalition. He was also endorsed by presidential daughter Sara Duterte’s Hugpong ng Pagbabago party. 

Yap is a former agriculture secretary who served under the administration of former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. 

Yap’s running mate for Vice Governor Rene Relampagos, secured a wider margin after garnering 329,115 votes over his opponent Tomas Abapo Abapo Jr’s 275,760 votes.

Regional police call wrong winner of Bohol race

In a press conference streamed on Facebook on Tuesday, May 14, Brigadier General Debold Sinas, chief of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas, erroneously told reporters that Evasco was the winning candidate of the Bohol gubernatorial race.

“For Bohol, I think what we have monitored is Cab Sec Jun Evasco as winner,” he said, even as initial tallies show Yap in the lead.

The Provincial Board of Canvassers have not yet finished canvassing and waiting for returns from the towns of Sagbayan, Panglao and Tubigon. They called a recess before 2 pm and will resume at 7 pm to canvass the remaining votes.

Yap campaigned on a platform of prioritizing renewable energy, banning coal power, and developing tourism in Bohol.

Evasco is a 3-term mayor of Maribojoc town, credited for raising its status from a 5th class to a 4th class municipality. Evasco focused on basic services such as ensuring access to water and free healthcare. – Rappler.com

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