Pacquiao retains GenSan mayoral seat; impeachment endorser defeated
Incumbent Mayor Lorelie Pacquiao. | PHOTO: Official Facebook page of Serbisyong Totoo: Tatak Pacquiao
GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Incumbent Mayor Lorelie Pacquiao secured a second term following a heated electoral race that divided the city’s political landscape.
The City Board of Canvassers (CBOC) proclaimed Pacquiao the winner on Tuesday, although her party, the People’s Champ Movement (PCM), lost both the congressional and vice mayoral races. PCM, however, retained control of the city council, winning seven of the 12 seats.
Lawyer Sittie Sharmaine Garangan, city election officer and CBOC chair, led the proclamation after the board reconvened at 11 a.m. on May 13. The initial canvass session began at 3:30 a.m. but was postponed to allow further verification of voting data.
According to the canvass report, voter turnout was 76.81%, with 282,996 ballots cast out of 368,454 registered voters.
Pacquiao received 147,992 votes, defeating former mayor and incumbent Vice Mayor Rosalita Nuñez of PDP–Laban, who garnered 117,844 votes. Independent candidates Ana Paglangan received 1,749 votes, Juhir Esmail got 1,429, and Bai Dani received 1,039.
Pacquiao thanked voters for the renewed mandate, promising “genuine service” and stronger initiatives. “More (good programs). (I’m) more excited now,” she told reporters.
Elected vice mayor was third-term City Councilor Jose Edmar Yumang of RCR Initiatives, who secured 139,050 votes. He defeated PCM’s Jose Orlando Acharon, who received 115,140 votes.
Winning city council seats were:
- Jonathan Blando (PDP–Laban)
- Cesar Bañas (PDP–Laban)
- Bing Dinopol (PDP–Laban)
- Beth Bagonoc (PCM)
- Ralph Ronald Yumang (PDP–Laban)
- Franklin Gacal Jr. (PCM)
- Michael Pacquiao (PCM)
- Richard Atendido (PCM)
- Virginia Llido (PCM)
- Ramon Milleza (PDP–Laban)
- Dominador Lagare III (PCM)
- Joey Dinopol
In the race for the city’s lone congressional seat, former Rep. Shirlyn Bañas-Nograles (PDP–Laban) was proclaimed the winner with 163,511 votes, defeating incumbent Loreto Acharon (NPC–PCM), who got 92,771. Independent Sterling Sañado received 4,337 votes.
Nograles, a former city councilor and vice mayor, was first elected to Congress in 2019 but lost the 2022 mayoral race to Pacquiao.
Acharon, currently in his first term as representative, was among the lawmakers who endorsed the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte and was named one of the House prosecutors for the upcoming impeachment trial.
