Neophyte beats Cebu’s Garcia

Leni is Naga’s first female mayor; Vilma, Aragones win as governors

MANILA, Philippines — Newcomer politician and lawyer Pamela Baricuatro of PDP–Laban defeated incumbent Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia of OneCebu in the gubernatorial race, a victory described by many as one of the most unexpected turn of events in the midterm elections.

Provincial election supervisor Marchel Sarno declared Baricuatro as the new governor of Cebu yesterday afternoon.

Baricuatro, a former flight attendant, dominated in 29 of Cebu’s 51 cities and municipalities. She garnered 1,107,924 votes against Garcia’s 765,051.

She originally planned to seek a congressional seat, but changed her mind, running as a substitute candidate for governor.

In another surprising result, Councilor Nestor Archival won the mayoral race in Cebu City, beating reelectionist Mayor Raymond Garcia and former mayor Michael Rama.

Archival and his running mate, Tomas Osmeña, were proclaimed winners yesterday afternoon.

Garcia has conceded defeat and assured Archival of a smooth transition.

Meanwhile, former vice president Leni Robredo made history anew following her decisive victory in the elections, becoming the first female mayor of Naga City.

“This is an opportunity to show the whole country that good governance works, that this is not just an abstract concept – good governance can be translated to better lives for the people,” Robredo told journalists following her proclamation yesterday.

Based on the official count, Robredo received 84,377 votes or over 91 percent of the total votes cast in the city. Her three rivals received less than 8,000 votes in total.

The vice mayoralty race was tight, with Robredo’s running mate, outgoing Rep. Gabby Bordado, receiving 46,690 against his closest rival Tato Mendoza’s 41,504.

The city’s outgoing mayor, Nelson Legacion, was proclaimed winner in the congressional race for Camarines Sur’s third district.

Robredo, whose late husband Jesse had served as Naga mayor, said she is fortunate that good governance mechanisms had been put in place during her husband’s incumbency.

“But it’s not enough to just have mechanisms. Good governance is a daily struggle. There’s no room for complacency. It should be measurable, it should have a face,” she said.

Kerwin Espinosa wins

In Leyte, self-confessed drug trafficker Kerwin Espinosa won the mayoral race in Albuera town against his rival, Vince Rama.

Espinosa garnered 10,939 votes while Rama received 7,081. He vowed to rid Albuera of illegal drugs.

In Albay, Rep. Joey Salceda of Lakas lost the gubernatorial race to Noel Rosal of KANP.

It was Salceda’s first defeat since he ran in elections in 1998.

In Batangas, Vilma Santos-Recto succeeded in her bid to return as governor, defeating her rivals Mike Rivera and Jay Ilagan.

Santos-Recto garnered 604,826 votes while Rivera and Ilagan received 490,611 and 50,606 votes, respectively.

However, Santos-Recto’s running mate and son, Luis Manzano, lost the vice gubernatorial race to Dodo Mandanas.

Her other son, Ryan Recto, won in the congressional race in the sixth district of Batangas.

In Laguna, former television journalist Sol Aragones defeated Sta. Rosa Rep. Dan Fernandez in the gubernatorial race.

Fernandez conceded and congratulated Aragones.

In Baguio, Mayor Benjamin Magalong secured his third and last term in office, defeating former congressman Marquez Go.

Shortly before 10 p.m. on Monday, Go immediately conceded defeat to Magalong.

Degamo defeats Teves

In Negros Oriental, the widow of slain governor Roel Degamo, Janice, won the congressional race in the third district of the province.

Degamo defeated Janice Teves Gaston, aunt of former governor Pryde Teves and his brother, ousted congressman Arnolf Teves.

Degamo’s victory put an end to the Teves family’s dominance in the district.

In Cagayan, Jamila Ruma, 21, won the mayoral race in Rizal town, becoming one of the country’s youngest mayors. She is a daughter of the late town mayor Joel Ruma, who was shot dead while campaigning two weeks before the elections. Ruma, a graduate of De La Salle University Manila where she was a consistent dean's lister, said it was a “big challenge for her to continue what her father has started.”

In La Union, incumbent Vice Gov. Mario Ortega defeated his granddaughter, Gov. Rafy Ortega-David, in the gubernatorial race.

In Pampanga, mother and son Lilia and Dennis Pineda were proclaimed winners as governor and vice governor, respectively. — Jose Rodel Clapano, Gilbert Bayoran, Ed Amoroso, Jun Elias, Artemio Dumlao, Cesar Ramirez, Ric Sapnu