LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The province’s thirteen towns will have 9 new mayors and ten vice mayors following the proclamation of the winning candidates in the different local elected posts after the May 12, 2025 mid-term elections.
Lawyer, Vanessa Roncal, assistant regional director of the Cordillera office of the Commission on election (Comelec) and concurrent Provincial Election Supervisor of Baguio-Benguet, described the conduct of the election in the province as peaceful and orderly despite certain glitches in the various automated counting machines (ACMs) that were used aggravated by the weak signals in remote communities.
She claimed that the different municipal board of canvassers were able to proclaim the winning candidates in their respective areas less than 12 hours after the closing of the precincts at around 7 pm of May 12 while the proclamation of the winning candidates was done 18 hours after the end of voting period.
Tuba Mayor Clarita Sal-ongan edged her four other rivals to secure her third term as the mayor while Vice Maria Carantes was also given by the voters her third term as the presiding officer of the municipal council.
Itogon Mayor Bernard Waclin was overwhelmingly elected by the voters to serve his second term and the same is true for Vice Mayor DAX Godio
Sablan Mayor Alfredo Dacumos, Jr. was given by the people a fresh mandate for his second term while vice Mayor Arthur Baldo will be serving his third term as the town’s vice mayor for the next three years.
Atok Mayor Franklin Smith will serve the municipality for his second term following his treasure victory during the May 12 polls while Edward Beliano will be serving as the town’s new vice mayor.
Bakun Vice Mayor Fausto Labinio frustrated incumbent Mayor Bill Raymundo who was seeking for his third consecutive term as he emerged victorious during the recent polls while Bobot Kigisan will also serve as the new vice mayor of the said town.
In Bokod, incumbent Vice Mayor Eric Ignacio edged his three rivals for the town’s mayoralty post to become one of the youngest local chief executives in the province while Councilor Doreteo Beray will serve as his vice mayor.
Buguias will also have a new mayor in the person of Councilor Julius Amos and new Vice Mayor, particularly Councilor Ronald Kimmakim, who is the current president of the Philippine Councilors League (PL) Benguet chapter.
Kapangan will soon be led by mayor-elect Harrison Disong and vice Mayor-elect Santos Bastian after they both bested their rivals for the two highest positions in the locality.
Kabayan first-term Councilor Rex Alwin Aquisan outclassed incumbent Mayor Florante Bantales, Jr. to become the youngest mayor in the province while Sario Minas will serve as his new vice mayor.
Mayor-elect Lary Tello and Vice mayor-elect Laurence Toking will lead Kibungan in the next three years after they will assume their respective posts by noon of June 30, 2025.
Retired Gen. Cesar Pasiwen defeated first term Mayor Dario Banario to become Mankayan’s next local chief executive while Councilor Arnel Camiling will take the helm of the municipal council by serving as the vice mayor and presiding officer.
Vice mayor Roderick Awingan and Councilor Guiller Galwan were both overwhelmingly chosen by the voters of La Trinidad to serve as the next mayor and vice mayor, respectively, of the capital town by July 1.
For Tublay, Vice mayor Juan Esnara will be taking over the town’s leadership from incumbent Mayor and Board Member-elect Armando Lauro while Councilor and former Liga ng mga Barangay president and Ambassador punong barangay Cruso Daguioa, Jr. will be taking over the vice mayoralty post which will be vacated by the mayor-elect.
Gov. Melchor Diclas got a fresh mandate for his third term while Senior Board Member Marie Rose ‘Betbet’ Fongwan-Kepes will be taking over the vice gubernatorial post which will be vacated by losing congressional candidate Ericson ‘Tagel’ Lawagey Felipe.
The newly elected provincial board members for the province’s first district are re-electionists Alexander Fianza and Johannes Amuasen while the second district board members are re-electionist Neptali Camsol and newcomers La Trinidad Mayor Romeo K. Salda, Buguias Mayor Ruben Tindaan, Kapangan Mayor Manny Fermin, Tublay Mayor Armando Lauro and comebaking board member Jim Botiwey.
Former Mankayan Mayor Frenzel Ayong was not able to make it to the sixth place in the race for the available seats in the provincial board after falling short by more than one thousand votes as he was the only administration candidate who did not make it to the said post in his first attempt to seek an elected post in the provincial level. By Dexter A. See
