TEN days after losing the mayoral race in Cebu City, Michael Rama has filed an election protest citing alleged irregularities committed by Mayor-elect Nestor Archival and outgoing Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia.
Rama, who placed third in the voting behind Archival and Garcia, confirmed to reporters that he filed the complaint before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Central Office in Manila on Thursday, May 22, 2025.
The former mayor refused to provide more details about his complaint, saying he will hold a press conference in Cebu City on Saturday, May 24.
Archival and Garcia, for their part, dismissed Rama’s election protest and urged everyone to move on for the good of the city.
Just Mike’s imagination
In a phone interview, Archival of Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) dismissed Rama’s claims of irregularities.
“Imagination ra ni Mike...ang number two wala gani nireklamo nga siya noon kay number three,” he said, adding that voters had already cast their votes and elected new leaders.
The incoming mayor said Rama’s allegations were tied to his demand for a recount of all automated election machines.
Instead of dwelling on the protest, Archival said he was focused on preparing to serve his constituents, adding that the protest would not affect his assumption of office on June 30.
Garcia, in a separate phone interview, said he no longer saw the need to file a similar election protest despite his own loss.
He said Rama’s move did not come as a surprise, noting that the former mayor had yet to formally concede. The outgoing mayor was the first to concede even before Archival’s proclamation.
Garcia noted that Rama had personally experienced a technical glitch in the vote counting machine at his precinct, which may have led him to believe there were irregularities in the process.
“Mas maayo tingali nga (It’s better that) we will accept the results of the election. Let us move forward and help each other,” he said.
Garcia said that filing a protest would be a waste of time and resources. He encouraged everyone to focus on moving forward.
The outgoing mayor said he did not observe any irregularities and that his voting experience had been smooth.
Rama, the standard-bearer of Partido Barug Team Rama, has refused to concede defeat in the 2025 mayoral race.
In a May 13 press conference following the elections and the proclamation of winners, Rama questioned the credibility of the electoral process and hinted at legal action.
“Do not force me to concede,” Rama said.
Rama got 120,124 votes, behind Garcia’s 176,967 and Archival’s 256,197.
The other candidates, Yogi Filemon Ruiz and Julieto Co, received 27,652 and 3,163 votes, respectively. / EHP