Pam proclaimed new governor

The proclamation was held at exactly 3:26 p.m. by the Cebu Provincial Board of Canvassers, after a long delay due to transmission issues from the town of Pinamungajan.

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According to Commission on Elections (Comelec) Region 7 Director Atty. Francisco Pobe, the delay was caused by a flash drive malfunction that prevented results from being transmitted.

Election officials sought clearance from the Comelec central office in Manila to reformat the flash drive and reload the ballot images to ensure proper transmission.

Of the province's 51 cities and municipalities, Baricuatro won in 29 localities while Garcia prevailed in 22.

She also achieved a clean sweep in the first congressional district and dominated vote-rich areas in southern Cebu, including Talisay, Carcar, and Naga.

Notably, despite the Garcia stronghold in Liloan being home of the influential Frasco family, Baricuatro still managed to post significant leads.

Baricuatro's win makes her the second woman to serve as Cebu's governor. Her rise from being relatively unknown to Cebu's highest provincial post was buoyed by a grassroots campaign she described as "clean," without vote-buying or political machinery.

Baricuatro, a staunch supporter of former President Rodrigo "Digong" Duterte, expressed her gratitude to Cebu and unexplained happiness after winning and being the "People's Governor."

Her victory was celebrated with chants of "Baricuatro! Baricuatro!" and "Duterte! Duterte!" reverberating inside the Capitol's Social Hall.