BY GLORIA LEODIVICA INES ARANETA
Tagbilaran City made history in the 2025 National and Local Elections held on May 12, 2025, as the entire Asenso Pa More slate swept the polls, delivering a resounding 15-0 victory.
Mayor Jane Yap was overwhelmingly re-elected with 37,715 votes, alongside Vice Mayor Atty. Adam Relson Jala, who secured 37,499 votes.
Both will be serving their second terms starting noon of June 30, 2025.
Their landslide victory reflects the strong trust and confidence of the people in their leadership and the direction of governance they represent.
Joining them in the Sangguniang Panlungsod are the ten winning councilors, all under the Asenso Pa More banner.
Leading the race is newcomer and Bool Barangay Captain Jose Floro “Plong” Ringca with 40,839 votes, followed by another new face, Gian Besas, with 32,592 votes.
Completing the top five are re-elected Councilors Jose Esteban Timoteo “Tim” Butalid (30,796 votes), Nerio “Butchie” Zamora II (30,459 votes), and former councilor Leonides “Edi” Borja (29,375 votes).
Also earning seats are re-elected councilor Fausto “Bebot” Budlong (29,242 votes), former councilor Agustinus “Dodong” Gonzaga (28,797 votes), and newcomer Merick Blanco (28,701 votes).
Incumbent councilors Charles Cabalit (27,789 votes) and Gemma Inting (27,254 votes) round up the winning slate, ensuring complete dominance of the Asenso Pa More team in the city council.
Adding to this historic feat, former City Mayor John Geesnell “Baba” Yap clinched a decisive victory in his first bid for Congress (with 130,661 votes) to become the new representative of the First District of Bohol. His win signifies a powerful mandate from the people who have seen the transformation of Tagbilaran under his leadership and now entrust him with broader responsibilities as a legislator.
The victory wave also extended to the provincial level, with incumbent Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado (with 563,746 votes) earning a fresh mandate for another term.
Tagbilaran’s very own and incumbent City Councilor Nicanor Besas, who also served as the Provincial Federated President of the Philippine Councilors League, was elected as Vice Governor of Bohol (with 420,658 votes).
This monumental 2025 election outcome is a testament to the unified support of Boholanos for the Asenso Pa More team—a movement anchored in transparent governance, inclusive development, and a vision of progress for all.