By NITZ ARANCON Correspondent THE local board of election canvassers proclaimed Mayor Oscar Moreno and his running mate Joaquin Rainier Uy as the winners in Monday’s mayoral and vice mayoral races, respectively, past 3 am yesterday. Their proclamation at the city council session hall came some 12 hours after a losing candidate for councilor, former Taglimao barangay chairman William Guialani, filed a petition to suspend Moreno’s proclamation if not, disqualify the mayor as a candidate in the mayoral elections. Guialani’s basis was the Office of the Ombudsman’s decision that held Moreno accountable in the controversial city hall-Ajinomoto tax settlement case. The decision, although not implemented, slapped Moreno with perpetual disqualification from holding public office. Moreno and Uy were proclaimed by city elections officer Joel Dexter Nagtalon, city prosecutor Fidel Macauyag, and city schools superintendent Elena Borcillo. Uy’s father, Rep. Rolando Uy, and Abante Mindanao Rep. Maximo Rodriguez Jr., were also proclaimed winners in the race for House seats in the 1st and 2nd congressional districts, respectively. The board also proclaimed winners in the race for 16 city council seats. They are Zaldy Ocon, Lourdan Suan, Edna Dahino, Jay Pascual, Romeo Calizo, George Goking, Annie Daba, and Reuben Daba in the 1st District; Nadya Elipe, Ma. Lourdes Gaane, Dometilo Acenas, Ian Nacaya, Leon Gan, Teodulfo Lao, Suzette Magtajas-Daba, and Enrico Salcedo in the 2nd District. The board adjourned the proceedings after the proclamations. Moreno won a reelection with 97,033 votes over former mayor Vicente Emano’s 80,786 votes, and 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez’s 61,804 votes. Moreno’s wife Arlene, children, and grandchildren came to witness the proclamation of the mayor who would be serving a second term. After being proclaimed winner, Moreno said he would immediately set aside partisan politics so he could focus on his work as the local chief executive. He appealed to local politicians: “You have to set aside politics, and move forward as one nation and one people. The purpose of the elections is to determine the mandate of the sovereign people... that mandate unites the people,” he said. Vice Mayor-elect Uy said he really did not expect to unseat Emano’s running mate, Vice Mayor Caesar Ian Acenas. “Chamba lang,” said Uy. The new vice mayor garnered 93,360 votes over  Acenas’s 84,324 votes, and Councilor Roger Abaday’s 42,201 votes. Uy’s father was a no-show during his proclamation as reelected congressman in the 1st District. He just sent his lawyer, Margeline Carrasco, to receive copies of his certificate of canvass and proclamation, and other documents from the board of canvassers. “Naglikay lang ta sa pagbati nga sobra ka dako ang gasto nga wala milampos,” said Rep. Uy who garnered 57,094 votes over his lone challenger Councilor Lourdes Darimbang’s 51,208 votes, a difference of 5,886 votes. Rep. Rodriguez, the younger brother of Moreno’s challenger Rufus, came and was proclaimed by the board. He is now the congressman-elect of the city’s 2nd District, a seat that would be vacated by his elder brother. Rodriguez won the congressional post with 46,363 votes over Councilor Ramon Tabor’s 34,123 votes, ex- councilor Edgar Cabanlas’s 29,343 votes, lawyer Evangeline Carrasco’s 4,905 votes, Chito Fernandez’s 507 votes, and Celso Balat’s 502 votes. A day earlier signal problems resulted in tension during the canvassing at the city council. Lawyers Mateo Delegencia and Francis Ku, legal counsels of Moreno and Emano, respectively, lost their cool because the board of canvassers could not fully explain to them why the transmission of election results from the boards of election inspectors was too slow. Delegencia said the canvassing was marred by signal problems starting on Monday night, prompting the board to use a USB modem in the hope of getting a better signal. Ku said the canvassing was delayed because the board chairman had sought permission first from the National Technical Center before they could use the USB modem as provided for in Comelec Resolution no. 10101. Nagtalon, the board chairman, said, “Dili na  na-apiktohan ang boto nga nakuha sa mga kandidato bisan hinay ang atong electronic canvassing kay ang resulta sa election niadtong May 9 na-transmit na man sa mga board of election inspector gikan sa ilang mga VCMs (vote-counting machines).” City prosecutor Macauyag, the board vice chairman, faulted the Smartmatic for the delays, and said the firm should be held answerable. “It’s not the fault of the City Board of Canvassers,” Macauyag said.