Bam! From out of the blue shines yellow

Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, a close ally of former President Rodrigo Duterte, held a commanding lead in the senatorial race, according to partial and unofficial results from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) media server.

As of midnight, Go of PDP-Laban garnered 26,222,319 votes. Bam Aquino (KNP) followed with 20,360,601 votes, and Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa (PDP-Laban) received 20,091,898 votes. Rep. Erwin Tulfo (Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas) and Sen. Kiko Pangilinan (Liberal Party) received 16,616,155 and 14,879,484 votes, respectively.

The surprising performance of Aquino, who surged to second place, marked the first major electoral comeback for a member of the Aquino clan — symbolized by the color yellow — since the administrations of the late Presidents Cory and Noynoy Aquino.

Go thanked his supporters and dedicated his lead to Duterte. “Sipag, pagmamalasakit, and more of my service to the nation ang maaasahan ng taumbayan sa akin,” Go said in a television interview.

In sixth place was independent senatorial candidate Rodante Marcoleta with 14,770,019 votes; followed by independent candidate Panfilo “Ping” Lacson (14,647,531), Nationalist People’s Coalition’s Tito Sotto (14,399,152), Pia Cayetano of the Nacionalista Party (14,137,684), Camille Villar of the Nacionalista Party (13,232,657), Lito Lapid of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (12,936,025), and presidential sister and Nacionalista Party bet Imee Marcos with 12,897,749 partial and unofficial votes.

The Comelec reported that the numbers represented 74.01 percent of election returns as of 10:47 p.m.

Ben “Bitag” Tulfo, Sen. Bong Revilla, and Makati Mayor Abby Binay were in the 13th to 15th spots.

Meanwhile, in the Metro Manila mayoral races, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte held a massive lead with 1,034,873 votes against Diosdado Velasco’s 20,936. Belmonte’s running mate, Gian Sotto, topped the vice mayoral race with 942,454 votes.

In Caloocan City, Along Malapitan secured 334,380 votes against his top rival, former Senator Sonny Trillanes, who garnered 222,893. For vice mayor, Karina Teh gained 337,584 votes against PJ Malonzo’s 190,737.

Vico via landslide

In Pasig City, Vico Sotto maintained his strong lead with 392,738 votes against Sara Discaya’s 32,388. Dodot Jaworski emerged as Pasig City vice mayor, garnering 324,839 votes versus Iyo Caruncho-Bernardo’s 79,540.

In the City of Manila, Isko Moreno Domagoso led the mayoral race with 560,637 votes against incumbent Mayor Honey Lacuna’s 197,705. Domagoso’s running mate, Chi Atienza, got the highest vote count in the vice mayoral race with 615,212 votes, while Yul Servo Nieto received 259,537.

In Marikina City, Maan Teodoro secured 150,070 votes versus Stella Quimbo’s 118,794.

In Taguig City, Lani Cayetano led with 415,706 votes against rival Arnel Cerafica’s 105,320. Arvin Ian Alit got 341,355 votes against Janelle Cerafica’s 136,460.

In Navotas, John Rey Tiangco got 116,582 votes, while Tito Sanchez led the vice mayoral race with 107,587 votes.

In Pasay City, Emi Calixto Rubiano led with 133,492 votes versus Wowee Manguerra’s 85,079. Mark Calixto topped the vice mayoral race with 124,418 votes against Okidocbong Tolentino’s 81,814.

San Juan City’s Francis Zamora led the mayoral race with 51,242 votes against Philip Cezar’s 7,361.

Ruffy Biazon, meanwhile, got 203,680 votes as he ran unopposed for mayor in Muntinlupa City.

Provincial Results

In the provinces, returning Batangas Governor Vilma Santos topped the race with 600,729 votes, while Dodo Mandanas garnered 754,213 votes for vice governor.

In Naga City, former Vice President Leni Robredo topped the mayoral race with 81,550 votes.

In Cebu, Pam Baricuatro led the gubernatorial race with 654,978 votes against incumbent Governor Gwen Garcia’s 418,383.

In Davao City, former President Duterte — currently in The Hague, Netherlands — secured a landslide 499,875 votes against Karlo Alexi Nograles (61,173), while his son Baste Duterte led the vice mayoral race with 491,388 votes against Bernie Al-ag’s 59,766.

In Marinduque, a close fight was seen as Mel Go Go received 61,887 votes versus Lord Allan Jay Velasco’s 59,871. Doc Romulo Bacorro, running for vice governor, secured 70,270 votes, while his contender, Lyn Angeles, got 47,709.

For the congressional race in Las Piñas, unheralded Mark Anthony Santos dominated the polls with 115,983 votes against Senator Cynthia Villar’s 84,232.

The Comelec halted the partial, unofficial count at midnight and will reconvene at 10 a.m. Tuesday.