Cebu City Council to feature young guns

Local

A FRESH SURGE of new and young politicians is set to join the 17th Sangguniang Panlungsod of Cebu City, following the surprise outcome of the May 2025 midterm elections.

The recent midterm polls saw Bando Osmeña–Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) reclaim majority control and Partido Barug relegated to the minority.

According to the official Certificate of Canvass by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) as of May 13, BOPK allies, along with independent allies and political newcomers, captured key seats in the council.

The elections also swept Nestor Archival Sr. of BOPK into the mayoralty, while former mayor Tomas Osmeña claimed his position as vice mayor.

In the congressional races, reelectionist Rachel “Cutie” del Mar won as first district representative, while Eduardo “Edu” Rama Jr. kept his seat in the second district.

In the first district, three political neophytes topped the councilor race. Winston Pepito (Kusug) led the pack with 113,179 votes, followed by Niña “Nice” Archival (BOPK) with 105,542 votes, and Harold Kendrick Go (Kusug) with 98,052 votes.

Other returning and reelected councilors in the district include Edgardo “Jaypee” Labella (Kusug) with 96,972 votes, Joel Garganera (Kusug) with 94,194, Alvin Arcilla (BOPK) with 93,156, Jun Alcover (Kusug) with 84,570, and Bebs Andales (BOPK) with 83,670.

In the second district, former councilor Dave Tumulak (Kusug) topped the race with 127,574 votes, making a political comeback. He was followed by Phillip Zafra (Barug) with 108,520 and Paul Labra (BOPK) with 107,270.

Newcomer Michelle Abella (BOPK), who placed seventh in the district with 90,061 votes, joins another greenhorn—Mikel Rama (Barug), who earned 94,847 votes.

Veteran politicians Jose “Joey” Abellanosa (BOPK), Francis Esparis (Barug), and Harry Eran (Barug) complete the eight councilors from the second district.

With these results, the incoming 17th City Council will have a BOPK-dominated majority, reversing the political alignment of the 16th Council, which had been controlled by Barug.

The previous council saw Barug holding the majority, led by presiding officer and Vice Mayor Donaldo Hontiveros, who lost in his vice mayoral election bid. Former majority floor leader Jocelyn Pesquera and assistant majority floor leader James Cuenco also failed in their bids for local seats.

Meanwhile, Nestor Archival Sr., then the minority floor leader of BOPK, now takes the city's top post as mayor.

Other former members who secured council seats include Joel Garganera, Jaypee Labella, Pastor Alcover, Phillip Zafra, and Pancrasio “Francis” Esparis.

Veteran councilor Joy Augustus Young and other members, such as Jerry Guardo, Renato Osmeña Jr., Mary Ann de los Santos, and Noel Wencesla either did not run or lost in their respective races.

Comelec records show a strong voter turnout in Cebu City, with 609,789 ballots cast out of 721,469 registered voters, or 84.52 percent. All 790 clustered precincts were successfully canvassed.(TGP)