2011 Ilocos Sur's 1st congressional district special election

A special election for Ilocos Sur's 1st district seat in the House of Representatives of the Philippines was held on May 28, 2011. The special election was called after incumbent representative Ronald Singson resigned on March 7, 2011 after being convicted of drug possession by the Wan Chai District Court in Hong Kong. Vigan vice mayor Ryan Singson, the former representative's brother, won the election and shall serve the remainder of his brother's term which will end on June 30, 2013.

2011 special election at Ilocos Sur's 1st legislative district
May 28, 2011
 
Candidate Ryan Luis Singson Trandy Baterina
Party Biled Liberal
Popular vote 71,995 30,445
Percentage 70.28 29.72
Representative before election

Ronald Singson
Lakas–Kampi

 Representative-elect

Ryan Luis Singson
Biled

Background

Incumbent representative Ronald Singson of Lakas-Kampi-CMD won the general election on May 10, 2010. His term began on June 30, but he was arrested in Hong Kong on July 11, a few days before the 15th Congress convened, for trafficking of illegal drugs.[1] Singson was convicted on a lesser charge of drug possession on February 25, 2011,[2] and resigned the next month, which was accepted by the Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr..[3]

The Commission on Elections set the election on May 28, 2011, Saturday. The period for the filing of certificates of candidacy was from May 9 to 13, and the campaign period would be from May 14 to 26. Unlike the general election, the special election will be conducted manually.[4]

Campaign
Municipalities, including Vigan, north of, and excluding, Santa belonged to the first district.

Initial speculation on the candidates centered on incumbent governor and Ronald's father Chavit Singson and his political opponent Efren Rafanan of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) as the elder Singson defeated Rafanan in the 2010 gubernatorial election.[5] President Benigno Aquino III's Liberal Party screened potential candidates as Trandy Baterina, the younger Singson's congressional opponent in 2010 was no longer interested in running.[6] Meanwhile, Singson's local party Biled selected Vigan vice mayor Ryan Singson, Chavit's son and Ronald's brother as their candidate.[7] On mid-May, Baterina filed his certificate of candidacy as the Liberal Party's candidate, accompanied by his father Ben, and Rafanan.[8]

The Liberal Party was split in the election: the Liberals endorsed Baterina, but their Ilocos Sur chair, Francisco Ranches, Jr., personally backed Singson; he added that Baterina would be running as an independent candidate as the party nomination was not submitted to the commission on time. Rafanan, Baterina's campaign manager, countered that they got the party nomination and submitted it to the commission on time.[9] At the eve of the election, both candidates' campaigns claim they have the endorsement of the Liberal Party.[10]

Results
  • Note: Change for Ryan Singson (Biled) is compared from Ronald Singson's (Lakas-Kampi) votes in 2010.
2011 Philippine House of Representatives special election at Ilocos Sur's 1st district[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Biled Ryan Luis Singson 71,995 70.28 −1.99
Liberal Trandy Baterina 30,445 29.72 1.99
Margin of victory 41,550 40.56 −3.98
Rejected ballots 52 0.05 −9.01
Turnout 102,492 63.28 −23.03
Biled gain from Lakas–Kampi Swing −1.99

The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) reported that the election was peaceful but there were reports of rampant vote-buying and barangay officials were entering the polling precincts. The PPCRV reported that the reason for the peacefulness was that the people already knew who will win, while refusing to name which campaign was buying votes.[12] Chairman Sixto Brillantes, whose commission targeted an election turnout between 55 to 60%, was worried on the turnout, but noted that the election was honest and orderly. Initial figures pointed to a turnout of between 55 and 65%; the low turnout was blamed on the number of disputed posts (1), as opposed in a general election where families voted together. Another reason was that voters had not been given "incentives" to vote, such as free gasoline.[13]

The Ilocos Sur Provincial Board of Canvassers proclaimed Singson as the winner on May 29.[14] Singson credited his party's machinery and his party mates for the victory; the position of vice mayor of Vigan will be taken over by Lourdes Baquiran, the councilor with the most votes in the 2010 city council election, with the vacancy on the council to be filled by someone from their party. The turnout was described as "good" by the city election officer, noting that only 60% of the voters generally cast their votes in special elections. The National Movement for Free Elections said its volunteers reported rampant vote-buying the week before the elections, with barangay officials, who are supposedly non-partisan, went house-to-house giving money in exchange for votes; the use of money politics were condemned by them.[15]

Representative-elect Singson was sworn into office on May 30 at the House of Representatives with his family and Manny Pacquiao with him at the rostrum. Singson said that they have no national political affiliation yet.[16]

2010 election result
Philippine House of Representatives election at Ilocos Sur's 1st district
Party Candidate Votes %
Lakas–Kampi Ronald Singson 91,875 72.27
Liberal Trandy Baterina 35,254 27.73
Valid ballots 127,129 90.94
Invalid or blank votes 12,660 9.06
Total votes 139,789 100.00
Lakas–Kampi hold

See also
  • 1913 Ilocos Sur's 1st legislative district special election

References
  1. Balana, Cynthia (2011-07-30). "RP consulate helpless in Ronald Singson drug case in HK". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on 2010-08-01. Retrieved 2011-05-28.
  2. Roncesvalles, Carina (2011-02-25). "Singson sentenced to 1 year, 6 months in HK prison". Philippine Star. Archived from the original on 2012-09-06. Retrieved 2011-05-28.
  3. Cabacungan, Gil C. Jr. (2011-03-08). "House accepts Singson's resignation, fills 1-Utak seat". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on 2011-03-10. Retrieved 2011-05-28.
  4. "Ilocos Sur special polls set May 28". ABS-CBNNews.com. 2011-04-05. Retrieved 2011-05-28.
  5. Picaña, Thom F. "Chavit, 'Rambo' face off in Ilocos Sur special elections". The Manila Times. Archived from the original on 2011-04-10. Retrieved 2011-05-28.
  6. Elias, Jun (2011-04-07). "LP still choosing bet for Ilocos Sur special poll". Philippine Star. Retrieved 2011-05-28.
  7. "Another Singson to run for Ilocos Sur special poll". ABS-CBNNews.com. 2011-04-08. Retrieved 2011-05-28.
  8. "Aquino party-mate to run for Ilocos Sur special poll". ABS-CBNNews.com. 2011-05-12. Archived from the original on 2011-08-10. Retrieved 2011-05-28.
  9. Balbin, Leoncio Jr.; Sotelo, Yolanda (2011-05-26). "President Aquino's party split in Ilocos Sur". Philippine Star. Retrieved 2011-05-28.
  10. Supnao, Mar T. (2011-05-27). "Special polls in Ilocos Sur". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 2011-05-28.
  11. Lazaro, Freddie (2011-05-29). "Another Singson wins congressional seat". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 2011-05-29.
  12. Tubeza, Philip C. (2011-05-28). "Watchdog says vote-buying rampant in Ilocos Sur special polls". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 2011-05-28.
  13. Arzadon, Cristina; Balbin, Leoncio Jr. (2011-05-28). "Low turnout in Ilocos Sur special polls—Comelec". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 2011-05-28.
  14. "Ronald Singson's bro is new Ilocos Sur rep". ABS-CBNNews.com. 2011-05-29. Retrieved 2011-05-29.
  15. Arzadon, Cristina; Aning, Jerome; Balbin, Leoncio Jr. (2011-05-30). "Chavit son wins Ilocos Sur poll". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 2011-05-30.
  16. Cruz, RG (2011-05-30). "Ryan Singson sworn in to replace brother in House". ABS-CBNNews.com. Retrieved 2011-05-30.
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