By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD CITY – The Negros Occidental Provincial Board of Canvassers, headed by Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria, began proclaiming the province’s newly elected officials on Tuesday.
First to be proclaimed was Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, who won a third and final term.
Lacson garnered 911,514 votes across the province’s 31 cities and municipalities.
Also proclaimed was Provincial Board Member Jose Benito Alonso, who was elected vice governor with more than 600,000 votes.
Victorias City Mayor Javi Benitez was proclaimed winner of the 3rd District congressional race after securing 200,044 votes against his lone opponent.
Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer was proclaimed 4th District representative after defeating former Department of Public Works and Highways regional director Delfinado.
Ferrer received 130,023 votes, while Delfinado got 72,503 — a margin of 52,520 votes.
6th District Rep. Mercedes Alvarez, who sought a second term, was also proclaimed.
She garnered more than 100,000 votes and said she won in all 111 barangays in the district.
In the local races, winners in Moises Padilla were proclaimed early Tuesday morning.
Incumbent Mayor Ella Garcia Yulo secured a third and final term.
Her husband, Pimpoy Yulo, was elected vice mayor, and their entire seven-member council slate won — a landslide victory.
In Talisay City, Atty. Rowena Lopez Lizares won over businessman Samuel Siote, becoming the city’s first woman mayor.
She will succeed her husband, Mayor Neil Lizares, who will complete his third and final term on June 30, 2025.
Her running mate, Vice Mayor Nic Jalandoni, lost to Councilor Gab Villacin.
In La Castellana, incumbent Mayor Rhummyla Nicor-Mangilimutan won her third and final term, defeating two other candidates.
Her brother, Councilor Añejo Nicor, was elected mayor.
Four members of her council slate also won, including their father, former Mayor Alberto Nicor, who has Parkinson’s disease and finished in 8th place.
In Isabela town, Mayor Irene Montilla and her son, Vice Mayor Juan Miguel Montilla, who swapped posts in this election, lost to Miguel Angelo Yulo and Renato Malabor Jr.
Yulo, who won the mayoralty, is the son of 5th District Rep. Atty. Dino Yulo.
Malabor, elected vice mayor, is the son of the late former mayor Renato Malabor.
Irene Montilla is the widow of the late Isabela Mayor Enrique Montilla III.
Another member of the Montilla family, Enrique III’s brother Juan Miguel, ran for councilor but was not elected.
