HISTORICALLY, no candidate should be more popular in a province other than his own.

But results for senatorial candidate Juan Miguel Zubiri in the midterm elections show otherwise, following the same pattern as that in 2004 elections where President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo showed herself stronger in Cebu than in her home province Pampanga.

Based on documents from the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Zubiri appeared to be more popular in Maguindanao than in bailiwick Bukidnon. Zubiri’s vote-percentage share in all 22 towns in Maguindanao averages at 95.75 percent.

The results for Zubiri in Maguindanao are so high that in one town, Pandag, Zubiri posted a 100-percent voter-percentage share — of the 3,382 registered voters who actually voted, 3,382 voted for Zubiri. In another town, Datu Abdulah Sangki, 99.76 percent (7,920 of 7,939) of those who trooped to the polls voted for Zubiri.

These results largely differ from that of Bukidnon where even in Zubiri’s hometown, Maramag, only 84 percent of the voters cast their ballots in his favor. His highest based on initial results was seen in Kitaotao, where he got a voter-percentage share of 87.79 percent. (see table)

* Figures based on Bukidnon provincial CoC

When asked about this statistical improbability, Zubiri said that unlike in Bukidnon, where the voters have varied ethnic and religious affiliations, voters in Maguindanao follow a “bloc voting” scheme.

“The tribal leaders give an order and people follow,” Zubiri said. He also added that he, together with Team Unity candidates Luis Singson and Prospero Pichay, were the first ones to visit Maguindanao during the campaign season, when they visited Maguindanao Governor Datu Andal Ampatuan during his birthday. Zubiri said he visited the province twice after that.

“I have no means to manufacture CoCs (certificate of canvass) that large scale because I have no machinery,” Zubiri said in response to accusations that he cheated in Maguindanao. Comelec had to recanvass the votes in Maguindanao, following statistically improbable results for Genuine Opposition senatorial candidates. Maguindanao elections supervisor Lintang Bedol earlier reported that the municipal CoCs were stolen.

“If there was hanky panky that happened, I was the one affected,” he said,”This is like nightmare for me. I just want to know if I won or lost.” He said that should close contender Aquilino Pimentel III file a protest, he will welcome an investigation and the opening of ballots.

The latest tally today shows that Zubiri is leading Pimentel by over 18,000 votes. There are three remaining provinces where canvassing has yet to be completed, but Comelec said the results for these towns will no longer affect the ranking of Zubiri.

Had Comelec disregarded the Maguindanao results, Pimentel will still be on the 12th spot with over a 110,000-lead over Zubiri.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court tomorrow is set to hold the oral arguments for Pimentel’s petition to exclude the alleged fraudulent election returns from Maguindanao. The High Court earlier dismissed his petition for a temporary restraining order to stop the canvassing of votes in the province, after failing to present evidence that the results were manipulated.

Pimentel said the Comelec should not proclaim the 12th winning candidate until after his election protest has been resolved. If the Supreme Court denies Pimentel’s petition tomorrow, Zubiri could be proclaimed on Saturday.