Newcomer is Cebu’s new governor as Pam defeats Gwen

Local

PAMELA Baricuatro, a political newcomer and staunch supporter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, was officially declared the winner of the 2025 Cebu gubernatorial race on Tuesday, May 13.

Running under the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan, Baricuatro received 1,107,924 votes, way ahead of incumbent Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, who garnered 765,051 votes.

Baricuatro’s dominant victory marks the end of the Garcia family's long-standing political dominance in Cebu. The result contrasted with Garcia’s hopes for a sixth term as governor.

The proclamation followed a tense delay as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) completed the canvassing of votes.

Although most election returns were in, a delay in transmitting results from Pinamungajan town slowed down the final tally.

At 3:26 p.m., the Cebu Provincial Board of Canvassers officially declared Baricuatro as the new governor-elect.

This announcement came after the final votes were tallied, despite earlier concerns over technical issues in Pinamungajan’s precincts that had caused delays.

Earlier in the proclamation, Baricuator shared her top priorities once officially proclaimed.

In an interview, Baricuatro said that improving healthcare services across the province would be her main focus. She also vowed to halt the planned transfer of the Capitol to Balamban, a proposal that had faced opposition.

In a lighthearted moment, Baricuatro also joked about continuing her popular TikTok videos.

Despite the victory, tensions ran high inside the canvassing center as supporters of both candidates waited for the final declaration.

Chanting “Baricuatro! Baricuatro!” and “Duterte! Duterte!” echoed throughout the hall as emotions ran deep among Baricuatro’s supporters.

Her win, especially in traditionally Garcia-strong areas like Liloan, further signaled her growing influence across the province. Liloan is currently led by the Frascos.

She dominated southern Cebu, including areas from Talisay City to Oslob, and swept all votes in the 1st Congressional District, which includes Talisay, Carcar, Naga, and several towns, known for its high voter turnout.

Credit for her victory was given not only to her team and supporters but also to the endorsement from former President Duterte.

"And to those who campaigned for me without me knowing, daghan kaayong salamat," Baricuatro expressed, acknowledging the boost her campaign received from Duterte’s backing.

Despite the disruption and uncertainty caused by the delayed vote transmission, the final tally confirmed Baricuatro’s lead.(MyTVCebu)