Ex-PNP chief is new Cagayan governor

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TUGUEGARAO CITY — Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Edgar Aglipay was proclaimed at past 4 p.m. on May 14 as the Cagayan governor-elect by the provincial board of canvassers.

With all the results accounted, Aglipay tallied 258,470 votes, just 27,429 votes more than second-running Zarah Lara, who got 231,041 votes and way more than incumbent Vice Gov. Melvin Vargas Jr.'s 149,745 votes.

The provincial board of canvassers administered the proclamation.

BEGGING FOR UNITY Former Philippine National Police chief Gen. Edgar Aglipay, with incumbent Gov. Manuel Mamba, kneels before other election winner and begs for unity in Cagayan province during his proclamation as the newly elected governor of Cagayan on May 14, 2025. CAGAYAN PIO PHOTO

The retired police general formally knelt before the other provincial winners, especially those board members elected who are not under his One Cagayan team, and asked them for unity and set aside politics.

Aglipay posted in his Facebook account that he owed the trust to the Cagayanos for electing him governor.

"This is not my victory alone, but a victory for all of us," said Aglipay.

"A new chapter of service and compassion unfolds before us, and together, we will uphold a more progressive, more orderly and more humane Cagayan," added the former PNP chief.

Aglipay was PNP chief from Aug. 23, 2004, to March 14, 2005, and later plunged into businesses such as being the chairman of EMME Security Group.

His daughter, Emmeline Aglipay-Villar, has been appointed social welfare undersecretary aside from being a three-term DIWA party-list representative and a former justice undersecretary. He is the father-in-law of Sen. Mark Villar (Emmeline's husband).

Aglipay banked on his votes in Tuao town — a bailiwick of his ally and incumbent three-term Gov. Manuel Mamba — where he garnered 27,641 votes as against 2,966 votes of Lara, enough to offset the higher votes of his closest rival (Lara) in Tuguegarao City, Solana and Baggao towns.

Lara conceded defeat, posting in her Facebook post: "Ako'y taus-pusong nagpapasalamat sa inyong pagtitiwala. Hindi man ito ang wakas na inaasahan natin, ito'y simula pa lamang ng mas matatag at mas malalim na paglilingkod (I am grateful for the trust. Even though this is not the end we like, this is still the start of a firmer and deeper service)."

In the final tally for vice governor, Mamba won in a landslide victory with 348,954 votes over opponents, his cousin Leonides Fausto and former governor Alvaro Antonio.

For provincial board members, elected were Rowena Retoma, Kamille Ponce-Perez and Romeo Garcia for the 1st district; Randy Ursulum, Alninoson Kevin Timbas and Vilmer Viloria for the 2nd district; and AJ Ponce, Engelbert Caronan, Romar De Asis and Odi Boy Fausto.