BUKIDNON, Philippines – Bukidnon Governor Rogelio Roque won a second term following a heated five-way race for the top capitol post.
The Provincial Board of Canvassers declared Roque the winner with 392,204 votes. Outgoing Valencia City Mayor Sunny Huervas, meanwhile, received 188,947 votes, while Indigenous Peoples’ Mandatory Representative Arbie “Bagani” Llesis garnered 111,397 votes.
Clive Quiño will continue to serve as Roque’s vice governor.
Roque’s wife Laarni also secured a second term as the province’s 4th District representative.
Roque won his first term as governor in 2022 by surprisingly upsetting Manuel Antonio Zubiri, the brother of Senator Migz Zubiri. The incumbent governor ran for reelection under the Zubiris’ One Bukidnon coalition.
Both Huervas and Llesis thanked their supporters for following their campaigns.
“Your trust, kindness, and unwavering faith in the vision she carried mean more than any position or title ever could,” Huervas’ camp wrote in a statement.
Llesis also expressed hope that Bukidnon’s newly elected officials would adopt a “parental” or consultative form of leadership.
In the congressional race, 1st District Representative Jose Manuel “Joeman” Alba and 2nd District Representative John Flores were reelected, while Audrey Zubiri bagged the province’s 3rd District seat. – Rappler.com