SIGNIFICANT upsets marked the Cebu elections as of 10:14 p.m., Monday, May 12, 2025. Preliminary tallies indicated major shifts in both Cebu City and Cebu Province leadership.
In Cebu Province, neophyte candidate Pamela Baricuatro led the gubernatorial race with 943,116 votes, overtaking incumbent Gwendolyn Garcia, who had 633,501 votes.
The vice gubernatorial race saw Glenn Soco, an ally of Garcia, leading with 923,250 votes compared to Joselito Ruiz’s 351,382 votes.
In Cebu City’s mayoral race, Nestor Archival was ahead with 231,411 votes. Raymond Alvin Garcia trailed with 156,351 votes, followed by Mike Rama with 108,197 votes. Yogi Ruiz and Julieto Co were further behind with 25,189 and 2,819 votes respectively.
Archival, in an interview, expressed gratitude to his supporters, families and friends.
Archival said he did not expect to win the elections.
“After I voted, around 5 p.m., I went to the barbershop so I wouldn’t hear the election results,” he said in Cebuano.
When he ran for vice mayor in 2016, Archival said he did not receive many phone calls.
It was different this time; even though the results were not yet final, he received many phone calls.
He outlined his agenda, which included prioritizing programs and initiatives for revenue generation without increasing taxes, streamlining
City Hall services, and expediting the completion of the Cebu City Medical Center.
Archival also emphasized the importance of council support, noting that several members of the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) were leading in the City Council race along with his vice mayoral running mate, former mayor Tommy Osmeña.
This will be Archival’s first term in office as mayor, should the results hold.
Garcia, his rival, conceded the mayoral race around 11:30 p.m., offering his congratulations to Archival and Osmeña.
Garcia, who served as acting mayor for five months and eventually took oath as mayor in October 2024, said it was a blessing for him to be given an opportunity to serve the city.
Despite the outcome, Garcia assured the public of his ongoing commitment to the city.
“Everyone could be assured that our service to the people and our efforts to deliver good results for all would continue,” he said.
Ruiz, the other mayoral contender, also congratulated Archival in a statement posted around 10 p.m.
He also expressed gratitude to his supporters, campaign team and family, ending his statement with well wishes.
The race for Cebu City vice mayor showed Tomas Osmeña leading with 210,995 votes, with Dondon Hontiveros following with 171,220 votes and Joey Daluz with 130,708 votes.
Osmeña, in a Facebook post, acknowledged the challenges ahead.
“Believe it or not, the real hard part was coming. Now it lay upon Nestor and myself to fulfill the duty entrusted to us; to show that BOPK made not empty promises, but guarantees,” wrote Osmeña.
Osmeña will be returning to public office after losing to the late Edgardo Labella in the 2019 mayoral elections.
The Cebu City congressional races also yielded significant outcomes:
North District: Rachel “Cutie” del Mar led with 96,118 votes, followed by Franklyn Ong (72,025 votes), Mary Ann de los Santos (54,103 votes) and Bert Lerios (2,030 votes).
South District: Edu Rama garnered 160,659 votes, while Bebot Abellanosa had 119,377 votes.
Other congressional races across Cebu Province showed:
Cebu First District: Rhea Gullas (unopposed) – 239,687 votes
Cebu Second District: Edsel Galeos (67,404 votes) led Junjun Davide (43,590 votes)
Cebu Third District: Karen Garcia (unopposed) – 121,831 votes
Cebu Fourth District: Sun Shimura (130,136 votes) led Janice Salimbangon (112,902 votes) and Sal Arapal Cariage (2,184 votes)
Cebu Fifth District: Duke Frasco (172,873 votes) led Mix Durano (110,565 votes)
Cebu Sixth District: Inday Daphne Lagon (unopposed) – 97,422 votes
Cebu Seventh District: Patricia Calderon (68,689 votes) led Maria Fema Duterte (39,839 votes) and Lito Navarro (5,986 votes)
Mandaue City Lone District: LolyPop Ouano-Dizon (119,133 votes) led Regal Oliva (81,705 votes)
Lapu-Lapu City Lone District: Ahong Chan (150,878 votes) led Ryan Yuson (58,834 votes)
In the highly urbanized cities, the mayoral races showed:
Mandaue City: Jonkie Ouano (103,284 votes) was ahead of Jonas Cortes (96,853 votes), Jo Cortes (2,710 votes) and Gepind Requerme (992 votes).
Lapu-Lapu City: Cindi Chan (134,028 votes) was leading Paz Radaza (40,163 votes) and Cristine Takahashi (36,852 votes).
Danao City: Nito Durano (53,340 votes) led Migs Magpale (24,762 votes).
Bogo City: Mayel Martinez (33,460 votes) led Maria Celeste Martinez (2,024 votes).
Carcar City: Patrick Barcenas (40,904 votes) led Mercy Apura (27,178 Votes) and Raul Gabijan (556 votes).
Toledo City: Joie Perales (62,315 votes) led Ian Zambo (29,903 votes) and Yen Apurado (912 votes).
City of Naga: Valdemar Chiong (53,475 votes) led Manny Sanchez (2,955 votes).
Other leading candidates for mayor and vice mayor in local government units (LGUs) across Cebu included:
Talisay City: Samsam Gullas (unopposed), Choy Aznar (unopposed)
Alcantara: Fritz Lastimoso, Larry Llenos (unopposed)
Alcoy: Eugene Singson, Michael Sestoso (unopposed)
Alegria: Gilberto Magallon, Verna Magallon
Aloguinsan: Ig-ig Moreno, Christian Moreno
Argao: Allan Sesaldo, Orvi Ortega
Asturias: Dungkoy Dumdum, Reine Yaras Badian: Jerome Librando, Minoza Doris
Balamban: Amos Cabahug, Alfie Binghay (unopposed)
Bantayan: Alex Layese, Art Despi (unopposed)
Barili: John-John Garcia (unopposed), Loy Ponsica
Boljoon: Jojie Derama, Inday Mubarak Obaid
Borbon: Nico Dotillos, Noel Dotillos
Carmen: Carlo Villamor (unopposed), Gerard Villamor
In the senatorial race, Sen. Bong Go continued to dominate the partial, unofficial senatorial tally, according to data released at 10:14 p.m. With 24,572,917 votes, Go held a significant lead over his closest competitor, Bam Aquino, who trailed with 19,472,564 votes.
The partial tally also showed Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa in third place with 18,796,083 votes, followed by Erwin Tulfo with 15,665,982 votes. Kiko Pangilinan secured the fifth spot with 14,224,288 votes, while Rodante Marcoleta sat in sixth with 13,940,090 votes.
Ping Lacson, Tito Sotto and Pia Cayetano were also within the top 10, securing the seventh, eighth and ninth spots, respectively. They were followed by Cynthia Villar in 10th place. Imee Marcos and Lito Lapid were in 11th and 12th places. Ben Bitag Tulfo and Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr., rounded out the top 14.
The data, sourced from Comelec, represents the partial, unofficial tally as of the specified time. (JJL with EHP)