Cebu City, Province keep leaders: Mike, Gwen win

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia are keeping their seats for the next three years.

Rama won the May 9, 2022 elections with 239,656 votes against Margot Osmeña, Dave Tumulak, Cris Saavedra, Edgar Concha, and Juanito Luna.

Meanwhile, Garcia will have her fifth term as governor. She earned 1,478,436, a far cry from the  341,455 votes earned by Ace Durano and 9,812 votes earned by Nito Magnanao.

The number of votes Garcia earned is a historic first.

Rama was proclaimed Tuesday afternoon while Garcia was proclaimed in the evening.

In a statement he read before the press, Rama offered reconciliation to opponents and promised to set partisan politics aside moving forward.

“The game of politics has ended. I offer reconciliation to our opponents. As I declared during the campaign, and as I have always practiced, I shall lead the City without consideration of one’s political color… Enough with partisanship. May 9 came to pass, let us forget the divisiveness of this political exercise and move on united to keep public service alive,” Rama said.

He said City Hall will continue with “Convergence that is participative, consultative, inclusive, and apolitical in governance” and will strengthen private-public partnerships.

He also took the opportunity to remind the public that the COVID-19 pandemic is still around and that a second booster shot is available.

“Samtang nagpuyo na kita karon nga Gawasnon gikan sa pandemya, dili gyud nato kalimtan nga mag-amping kanunay, motamod sa mga napamatud-an na nga mga public health protocols… W.U.H.A.N. gihapon ta. Wash for hands. Use face mark. Have your temperature checked. Avoid crowded placed. Never touch your face: MEN = mouth, eyes nose… PaBakunaTa Gihapon, Ka’Sugbo! Kini, ilabi na sa mga wala pa. Aduna na gani ta’y 2nd booster shot. Pahimusli ni,” Rama said.

Rama’s running mate, incumbent councilor Raymond Garcia, also won the vice mayoralty race.

Garcia will preside over a City Council that that is composed predominantly with councilors from his and Rama’s camp, Barug PDP Laban. Of the 16 seats in the Council, only four will be occupied by councilors from Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK).

Back at the Capitol, incumbent vice governor Hilario Davide III earned 788,081 votes while Garcia’s running mate, Tess Heyrosa, got 716,480. John Enad  got 52,784 votes. — Le Phyllis F. Antojado, JMO (FREEMAN)