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CEBU CITY — Two brothers of outgoing Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia have publicly acknowledged her loss in the 2025 gubernatorial race.
In separate interviews, Cebu 3rd District Rep. Pablo John Garcia, and former Government Service Insurance System gen-eral manager and president Winston Garcia congratulated Pamela Baricuatro, who was recently proclaimed as the new gov-ernor of Cebu.
Baricuatro, a neophyte political candidate backed by former president Rodrigo Duterte, scored a landslide victory, gar-nering 1,107,924 votes over Garcia's 765,051.
Pablo John Garcia declined to speak at length about the election results but emphasized the need for reflection.
"I do not want to preempt any statement. But now is not the time for me to talk. Now is the time for deep, deep, deep re-flection and to see what message this election is giving to all of us," he said.
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He also congratulated Baricuatro, saying, "We are all united in our love for Cebu and service. I hope she will use her man-date well to serve our beloved Cebu."
The congressional seat for the third district was won by former journalist Karen Flores-Garcia, wife of Pablo John.
Winston Garcia, for his part, shared a heartfelt message on social media, thanking the governor's supporters and praising her outstanding record in public service.
"Though the outcome of this election was not what we hoped for, I know her passion for serving Cebu and its people re-mains as strong as ever," he wrote in a Facebook post.
"To our newly elected Governor, Pam Baricuatro, congratulations. The people have spoken, and you now carry with you a clear mandate to serve and fulfill your plans for our province."
He said that Cebu's shared love remains a unifying force, urging everyone to move forward with respect and hope.
Baricuatro's victory was historic, not just for the margin but also for the territory she captured.
Baricuatro won across key areas including Southern Cebu and first congressional district. She even made inroads into Garcia strongholds such as Liloan, hometown of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco.
Baricuatro's win, fueled in part by Duterte's endorsement and strong social media presence, especially on TikTok, where she said she would continue her presence on the platform.
The governor-elect said she will prioritize improving the health care system and oppose the plan to transfer the Provincial Capitol in Cebu City to Balamban town in Southwest Cebu.
