AFTER 18 years, an Ouano will return to the mayor’s office of Mandaue City with the election of Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano.
Ouano’s father, the late Thadeo Ouano, served as mayor from 1998 to 2007.
Mayor-elect Ouano expressed deep gratitude to the people of Mandaue for their overwhelming support in electing him as the city’s new mayor in the May 2025 elections.
According to official results, Ouano garnered 101,549 votes, defeating incumbent Mayor Jonas Cortes, who received 94,488 votes. Other contenders in the race included Joey Cortes, who earned 2,667 votes, and Gepind Requierme, with 999 votes.
In his statement following the proclamation of winners at 3:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 13, Ouano said he was humbled by the mandate and pledged to lead the city with unity and purpose.
“This victory is not mine alone—it belongs to all of us who believe in the vision of a better, more progressive Mandaue,” said Ouano.
He also acknowledged the reelection of his sister, Congresswoman Emmarie “Lolypop” Ouano-Dizon, who retained her seat in the lone district of Mandaue. Ouano emphasized that having the city’s local executive and congressional representative working closely as allies would lead to more coordinated and effective governance.
The newly elected city officials were also proclaimed on Tuesday: incumbent Mayor Glenn Bercede as vice mayor-elect.
The 12 elected city councilors are Joel Seno, Fritz Villamor, Eugene Andaya, Ben Basiga, Jimmy Lumapas, Carlo Fortuna, Maline Cortes-Zafra, Jun Arcilla, Tingsol Cabahug, Jennifer Del Mar, Anjong Ouano Icalina, and Editha Flores-Cabahug (her son Kevin was named as her substitute after her passing).
Part of the One Mandaue slate which was run by Ouano-Dizon are mayor-elect Ouano, and six councilors-elect: Seno, Villamor, Andaya, Basiga, Cabahug and Icalina.
Meanwhile, several key local officials from the rival Team Mandaue slate, led by former mayor Jonas Cortes, also won seats: Bercede, Sanchez, and six councilors: Lumapas, Fortuna, Cortes-Zafra, Arcilla, Del Mar and Cabahug. / CAV