The electoral contest in Ifugao became one of the most anticipated due to delays in the proclamation of winners.

Despite a disqualification protest, incumbent Rep. Teodoro Baguilat Jr. was proclaimed winner before noon Friday, earning him his second term as member of the House of Representatives.

Baguilat garnered 47,751 votes compared to lawyer and former congressman Solomon Chungalao’s 41,664 votes.

Chungalao tried to delay the proclamation, saying the Commission on Elections has to give weight to an earlier decision of the Ombudsman which found Baguilat, who was then governor, guilty of an administrative charge.

Supervising Election Officer Elenita Julia Capuyan ruled the proclamation should proceed but without prejudice to protests filed by other camps.

Proclamation was also delayed because canvassing in Barangay Pinto, Alfonso Lista and Upper Cababuyan in Hingyon required the assistance of a technician from the Comelec’s central office to fix the PCOS machines that failed to transmit to the provincial board of canvassers, the Philippine Information Agency reported.

For governor, incumbent Eugene Balitang failed to land a second term. He lost by 2,929 votes against lawyer Denis Habawel. Balitang garnered 35,248 votes and Habawel 38,177 votes.

The board members for District I are Jordan Gullitiw (22,508 votes), Geronimo Bimohya (20,450), Robert Mangyao (19,526), and Victor Bunnol Jr. (19,350). 

For District II, board members-elect are Samson Atluna (15,600), Noli Maguiwe (14,576), James Frederick Dulnuan (13,791), and Federico Juguiad (12,633). 

For vice governor, the unofficial and partial results posted in rappler.com showed Pedro Mayam-o continues to enjoy a comfortable lead against his closest rival, Clemente Bongtiwon.

As of 2:25 a.m. Saturday, the transmitted results from the Ifugao board of canvassers to the national board of canvassers showed Mayam-o garnered 10,353 votes and Bongtiwon, 5,823 votes.

For the municipalities, leading the race for mayor and vice mayor are Clemente Talusig and Gaspar Chilagan Jr., (Aguinaldo); Glenn Prudenciano and Joseph Angowan (Alfonso Lista); Eladio Bang-ud and Tomas Pullupul (Asipulo); Jerry Dalipog and Joel Bungallon (Banaue); Geraldo Luglug and Isabel Bittag (Hingyon); Hilario Bumangabang and Richard Buyayo (Hungduan); Angelito Dulinayan and Roel Francis Dulnoan (Kiangan); Caesario Cabbigat and Martin Habawel Jr. (Lagawe); Mariano Buyagawan Jr. and Victomar Bunnol (Lamut);  Ruben Panitio and Letty Lim-ang (Mayoyao); and Marcelo Catalino and Agustin Calya-en (Tinoc).