LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Rep. Ronald Cosalan and Gov. Nestor Fongwan retained their electoral posts by garnering commanding leads against their political rivals in Monday’s elections.

Incumbent Board Member Nelson Dangwa will be the next vice governor of Benguet after leading by more than 35,000 votes against his two opponents.

Fongwan, who is marking his third term as governor, has set a new record in the political history of the province in terms of votes garnered by amassing 108,950 from the 13 towns.

The first 100,000 votes in the province were garnered by outgoing Vice Gov. Crescensio Pacalso during the 2010 elections.

Fongwan’s rival, Atty. Jerome Selmo, had 38,584 votes, based on the results of canvassing presented to reporters by the Provincial Board of Canvassers on Wednesday.

The reelectionist governor won the hearts of voters in all the towns of the province.

Cosalan had 85, 534 votes or higher by close to 20,000 against the votes of his closest political rival, Pacalso, who had 65,620 votes. The third candidate for congressman, Renan Munar, had 582 votes.

The younger Dangwa, son of political figure Samuel, had 72,546 votes or a commanding lead of more than 33,000 votes against his rivals, incumbent board members Juan Nazarro Jr. and Apolinario Camsol, who garnered 35,596 and 34,313 votes, respectively.

Cosalan, Fongwan, and Dangwa were proclaimed Wednesday by the PBOC composed of Benguet Election Supervisor Ricardo Bulintao as chair and Provincial Prosecutor William Bacoling and Benguet Schools District supervisor Nancy Lumbas as members.

The PBOC also proclaimed the four winning board members for District 1 composed of Johnny Waguis who had 26,128 votes, Dr. Esteban Piok with 25, 558 votes, Alfonso Fianza with 20, 598 votes, and Benjamin Saguid with 19,841 votes.

The PBOC likewise partially proclaimed the first three board members for District 2 who garnered the highest votes composed of re-electionists Concepcion Balao with 50,152 votes and Florence Tingbaoen with 49,051 votes and businessman Jack Dulnuan with 40,617 votes.

The three other board member candidates for District 2 who are in the Magic 6 were proclaimed the following day.

They are reelectionist Nardo Cayat who had 39,141 votes, Robert Namoro with 31,683 votes, and Jim Botiwey with 31,640 votes.

Benguet Police Provincial Office Director Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said not a single election-related violence was reported during the May 13 polls.

Benguet is considered the most peaceful province in the country during elections.