BAGUIO CITY – Most incumbent officials in the different local government units in the cordillera were re-elected into office by their respective constituents during the conduct of the recently concluded May 12, 2025 mid-term elections.
However, there were also some new and old faces in politics who were chosen by the electorate to occupy various elected posts in the different localities regionwide.
In Apayao, Rep. Eleanor Bulut-Begtang and Gov. Bulut were re-elected for their second term in their respective offices while board member Kyle Bulut, daughter of the governor, was given the fresh mandate to serve as the province’s incoming vice governor.
La Paz Mayor and president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) Joseph Sto. Nino Bernos outclassed Bangued Mayor Mila Valera to regain the position of Representative to the House of Representatives of Abra while former three-term Gov. Eustaquio Bersamin overpowered Bangued Vice Mayor Joaquin Kiko Valera Bernos to also regain the post as the province’s local chief executive. Former bordmember Ann Bersamin also dislodged incumbent Vice Gov. Maria Jocelyn Valera-Bernos to become the incoming presiding officer of the Abra provincial board.
In Baguio City, former three-term Rep. and six-term Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan won the hearts of the people to become the city’s incoming Representative to the House while Mayor Benjamin Magalong and Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan were both given the mandate to serve their third consecutive terms in their respective officers. Seven members of the 12-seat council are re-electionists, two are comebacking local legislators while three are considered neophytes.
Benguet Rep. Eric Yap and gov. Melchor Diclas were overwhelmingly re-elected by the people to serve their third consecutive terms while senior boardmember Marie Rose ‘Betbet’ Fongwan-Kepes was also chosen by the electorate to serve as the province’s new vice governor and presiding officer of the provincial board. The province will be having nine new mayors and 10 new vice mayors who be serving their first terms by July 1, 2025.
Ifugao Rep. Solomon Chungalao edged contractor Francis Cuyop for the province’s congressional race to serve his second third term as Representative to the House while incumbent Gov. Jerry Dalipog was given the fresh mandate for his second term as the province’s local chief executive. Former Lagawe Mayor Martin Omar Habawel will be serving as the province’s new vice governor and presiding officer of the provincial board.
In Mountain Province, Rep. Maximo Dalog, Jr. was unopposed for the province’s congressional post and will be en route for his third term as Representative to the House while Gov. Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr. bested former Sagada Mayor Edward Latawan, Jr. to gain his third consecutive term as the duly elected local chief executive. In 2016, Lacwasan was appointed as the province’s Acting Governor following the untimely demise of the late Gov. Leonard Mayaen during the campaign period for the May 2016 synchronized national and local elections. Pulling off a surprise during the recently concluded elections was businessman Jet Dominguez who foiled the desire of incumbent Vice Gov. Francis Tauli for his third consecutive term and will now be serving as the new presiding officer of the provincial board.
Dr. Caroline Agyao, daughter of former Public Works Assistant Secretary and three-term Kalinga Rep. Manuel S. Agyao, bested her two rivals to become the first lady Representative of the province to the House of Representatives while incumbent Gov. James Edduba was given the fresh mandate to serve his second term as the province’s local chief executive. Former Vice Gov. Dave Odiem emerged at the top of the other candidates to regain his post as the presiding officer of the provincial board.
Tabuk City Mayor Drawin C. Estran֮ero was unopposed for his third consecutive term while Vice Mayor Dick Bal-o won over former Mayor and Gov. Ferdinand Tubban to serve his second term as the presiding officer of t6he city council of the component city in the Cordillera.
Almost all of the winning candidates in the different elected positions in the provincial, city and municipal levels were proclaimed by the different board of canvassers, except for Benguet Rep. Yao whose proclamation was temporarily suspended by the provincial board of canvassers upon orders of the Second Division of the Commission on election (Comelec) because of a pending petition for disqualification that stemmed from the long standing issue on his citizenship which he claimed was appropriately answered tracing back to the May 2022 elections.
The newly elected local officials are expected to take their respective oaths of office by June 20, 2025 and are expected to assume their respective positions by noon of the said date and serve their respective localities for the next three years. By Dexter A. See
