Tuguegarao City, Cagayan—Retired Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Edgar Aglipay made a triumphant political debut and won the province’s gubernatorial race with forerunner Manuel Mamba sliding to vice governor position in the recently concluded 2025 midterm elections.
Both Mamba and Aglipay, the One Cagayan party’s standard-bearer, were formally proclaimed as governor and vice governor by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) through lawyer Michael Camangeg of the Provincial Board of Canvassers on Wednesday, May 14.
Aglipay secured 258,470 votes, demonstrating strong support from the people of Cagayan, surpassing his opponents Zarah Pulsar-Lara with 231,041 votes and Melvin ‘Boy’ Vargas with 149,745 votes.
In the vice-governor race, Mamba secured a landslide victory with 348,954 votes, leaving his opponents Leonides “Odi” Fausto and Alvaro “Apong” Antonio far behind.
Governor-elect Aglipay expressed his profound gratitude to the Cagayanos.
“I am sincerely grateful to every Cagayano who has been part of our success. You have been my true strength—your trust, support, and unity have served as my guide and inspiration throughout the entire journey,” he said.
“Because of you, we will serve as the governor of the province of Cagayan. This is not just my success, but our success. A new chapter of service and compassion awaits us—and together we will promote a more progressive, better, and more humane Cagayan,” Aglipay emphasized.
The former policeman turned politician won in 13 towns. Tuao, the hometown of Mamba, made a significant impact in their campaign. Aglipay won by a landslide there despite losing to Pulsar-Lara in four of the five vote-rich towns in Cagayan: Solana, Baggao, Aparri, and the capital Tuguegarao City.
Aglipay, 76, hails from Camalaniugan—a fourth-class municipality in the first district of Cagayan. He served as the PNP chief from August 23, 2004 until March 14, 2005 during the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
The elected board members in the three districts of Cagayan were also proclaimed. In the third district, the top four board members are Jean Alphonse ‘AJ’ Ponce (117,055 votes), Engelbert ‘Jojo’ Caronan (89,092 votes), Romar ‘Japo’ De Asis (82,879 votes), and Odi ‘Boy’ Fausto (73,286 votes).
In the second district, Randy Ursulum received 98,159 votes, Alninoson Kevin Timbas has 69,762 votes, and Vilmer Viloria—a returning member of the Provincial Board—gained 68,894 votes.
Rowena ‘Weng’ Retoma won the first district with 97,230 votes. Current councilor Kamille Ponce-Perez came in second with 87,057 votes, and lawyer Romeo Garcia received 80,542 votes.
Editor’s note: Correction has been made in the ninth paragraph, referring to Camalaniugan as fourth-class municipality in the first district of Cagayan.