Caluag independent team defeats Pineda slate in Pampanga capital

Reelectionist Mayor Vilma Caluag (in red) with her team of independent candidates. | Laban San Fernando’s Facebook page

MABALACAT CITY, Pampanga – The independent slate of reelectionist Mayor Vilma Caluag triumphed over the Kapanalig at Kambilan ning Memalen Pampanga (Kambilan) team led by former Pampanga 2nd District Board Member Mylyn Pineda-Cayabyab in the capital, City of San Fernando.

Pineda-Cayabyab is the sister of Pampanga Gov. Dennis Pineda and the daughter of Vice Gov. Lilia Pineda.

City Commission on Elections (Comelec) officials proclaimed Caluag and her entire team of independent candidates before dawn on Tuesday, May 13.

READ: Lilia Pineda leads Pampanga gubernatorial race

Caluag secured 127,124 votes, while Pineda-Cayabyab garnered only 49,061 votes.

Caluag’s running mate, Aurelio Brenz Gonzales, won the vice mayoral race with 128,191 votes, defeating incumbent Vice Mayor Benedict Jasper Lagman (Kambilan), who received 43,230 votes.

Gonzales is the son of House Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr.

Winning the city council seats were independent candidates Noel Tulabut, Reginaldo David, Harvey Quiwa, Tino Dizon, Raquel Pineda, Angelo Hizon Jr., Jay Cuyugan, Marck Joseph Carreon, Jayson Sicat, and Elmer Bengco.

In April 2024, Pineda-Cayabyab resigned from her post as board member and transferred her voter registration from Lubao, Pampanga to the City of San Fernando.