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2025 Philippine local elections in Eastern Visayas

The 2025 Philippine local elections in Eastern Visayas were held on May 12, 2025.

Summary

Governors

Vice governors

Provincial boards

Biliran

Governor

Incumbent Governor Gerard Espina of the Nacionalista Party retired.

The Nacionalista Party nominated Espina's father, former Biliran governor Rogelio Espina, who won the election against two other candidates.

Vice Governor

Incumbent Vice Governor Kokoy Caneja of Lakas–CMD ran for the Biliran Provincial Board in the 1st provincial district. He was previously affiliated with the Nacionalista Party.

Lakas–CMD nominated provincial board member Roselyn Espina-Paras, who won the election unopposed.

Provincial Board

Since Biliran's reclassification as a 2nd class province in 2025, the Biliran Provincial Board is composed of 13 board members, 10 of whom are elected.

The Nacionalista Party remained as the largest party in the provincial board with three seats, but lost its majority.

Two seats were left vacant as there were only eight candidates. The Local Government Code of 1991 states that vacancies in the provincial board are filled by the President of the Philippines.

1st district

Biliran's 1st provincial district consists of the municipalities of Almería, Kawayan and Naval. Five board members are elected from this provincial district.

Four candidates were included in the ballot.

2nd district

Biliran's 2nd provincial district consists of the municipalities of Biliran, Cabucgayan, Caibiran, Culaba and Maripipi. Five board members are elected from this provincial district.

Four candidates were included in the ballot.

Eastern Samar

Governor

Incumbent Governor Ben Evardone of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) initially ran for a third term, but withdrew on October 8, 2024. He was previously affiliated with PDP–Laban.

The PFP nominated Eastern Samar Philippine Councilors League president RV Evardone, who won the election running against Quinapondan mayor Raffy Asebias (Alliance for Barangay Concerns).

Vice Governor

Incumbent Vice Governor Maricar Sison of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas ran for a third term. She was previously affiliated with PDP–Laban.

Sison won the election against Neil Camenforte (Independent).

Provincial Board

The Eastern Samar Provincial Board is composed of 13 board members, 10 of whom are elected.

The Partido Federal ng Pilipinas won 10 seats, gaining a majority in the provincial board.

1st district

Eastern Samar's 1st provincial district consists of the city of Borongan and the municipalities of Arteche, Can-avid, Dolores, Jipapad, Maslog, Oras, San Julian, San Policarpo, Sulat and Taft. Five board members are elected from this provincial district.

Eight candidates were included in the ballot.

2nd district

Eastern Samar's 2nd provincial district consists of the municipalities of Balangiga, Balangkayan, General MacArthur, Giporlos, Guiuan, Hernani, Lawaan, Llorente, Maydolong, Mercedes, Quinapondan and Salcedo. Five board members are elected from this provincial district.

Nine candidates were included in the ballot.

Leyte

Governor

Incumbent Governor Jericho Petilla of the Nationalist People's Coalition ran for a second term. He was previously affiliated with PDP–Laban.

Petilla won re-election against Romeo Plasquita (Independent).

Vice Governor

Incumbent Vice Governor Sandy Javier of the Nationalist People's Coalition won re-election for a second term unopposed. He was previously affiliated with PDP–Laban.

Provincial Board

The Leyte Provincial Board is composed of 13 board members, 10 of whom are elected.

The Nationalist People's Coalition tied with the National Unity Party at four seats each.

1st district

Leyte's 1st provincial district consists of the same area as Leyte's 1st legislative district excluding the city of Tacloban. Two board members are elected from this provincial district.

Three candidates were included in the ballot.

2nd district

Leyte's 2nd provincial district consists of the same area as Leyte's 2nd legislative district. Two board members are elected from this provincial district.

Four candidates were included in the ballot.

3rd district

Leyte's 3rd provincial district consists of the same area as Leyte's 3rd legislative district. Two board members are elected from this provincial district.

Three candidates were included in the ballot.

4th district

Leyte's 4th provincial district consists of the same area as Leyte's 4th legislative district excluding the city of Ormoc. Two board members are elected from this provincial district.

Four candidates were included in the ballot.

5th district

Leyte's 5th provincial district consists of the same area as Leyte's 5th legislative district. Two board members are elected from this provincial district.

Two candidates were included in the ballot.

Northern Samar

Governor

Incumbent Governor Edwin Ongchuan of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas ran for the House of Representatives in Northern Samar's 2nd legislative district. He was previously affiliated with the National Unity Party.

Ongchuan endorsed his cousin, representative Harris Ongchuan (National Unity Party), who won the election against former representative Harlin Abayon (Aksyon Demokratiko) and Essie Unay (Independent).

Vice Governor

Incumbent Vice Governor Clarence Dato of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas ran for a second term. He was previously affiliated with the National Unity Party.

Dato won re-election against Samuel Picardal (Aksyon Demokratiko).

Provincial Board

The Northern Samar Provincial Board is composed of 13 board members, 10 of whom are elected.

The National Unity Party won seven seats, maintaining its majority in the provincial board.

1st district

Northern Samar's 1st provincial district consists of the same area as Northern Samar's 1st legislative district. Five board members are elected from this provincial district.

12 candidates were included in the ballot.

2nd district

Northern Samar's 2nd provincial district consists of the same area as Northern Samar's 2nd legislative district. Five board members are elected from this provincial district.

12 candidates were included in the ballot.

Ormoc

Mayor

Incumbent Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas ran for a second term. She was previously affiliated with PDP–Laban.

Torres-Gomez won re-election against Violy Codilla (National Unity Party).

Vice Mayor

Incumbent Vice Mayor Carmelo Locsin Sr. of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino retired.

Locsin endorsed his son, former Ormoc vice mayor Carmelo Locsin Jr. (Partido Federal ng Pilipinas), who won the election against city councilor Roiland Villasencio (National Unity Party).

City Council

The Ormoc City Council is composed of 12 councilors, 10 of whom are elected.

22 candidates were included in the ballot.

The Partido Federal ng Pilipinas won 10 seats, gaining a majority in the city council.

Samar

Governor

Incumbent Governor Sharee Ann Tan of the Nacionalista Party won re-election for a second term unopposed.

Vice Governor

Incumbent Vice Governor Arnold Tan of the Nacionalista Party won re-election for a second term unopposed.

Provincial Board

The Samar Provincial Board consists of 13 board members, 10 of whom are elected.

The Nacionalista Party won 10 seats, maintaining their majority in the provincial board.

1st district

Samar's 1st provincial district consists of the same area as Samar's 1st legislative district. Five board members are elected from this provincial district.

Five candidates were included in the ballot.

2nd district

Samar's 2nd provincial district consists of the same area as Samar's 2nd legislative district. Five board members are elected from this provincial district.

Seven candidates were included in the ballot.

Southern Leyte

Governor

Incumbent Governor Damian Mercado of Lakas–CMD ran for a third term. He was previously affiliated with PDP–Laban.

Mercado won re-election against Amalia Yap (Independent) and Leo Oliverio (Independent).

Vice Governor

Incumbent Vice Governor Milai Mercado of Lakas–CMD won re-election for a second term unopposed. She was previously affiliated with PDP–Laban.

Provincial Board

Since Southern Leyte's reclassification as a 1st class province in 2025, the Southern Leyte Provincial Board is composed of 12 board members, 10 of whom are elected.

Lakas–CMD won seven seats, gaining a majority in the provincial board.

1st district

Southern Leyte's 1st provincial district consists of the same area as Southern Leyte's 1st legislative district. Five board members are elected from this provincial district.

Six candidates were included in the ballot.

2nd district

Southern Leyte's 2nd provincial district consists of the same area as Southern Leyte's 2nd legislative district. Five board members are elected from this provincial district.

Seven candidates were included in the ballot.

Tacloban

Mayor

Incumbent Mayor Alfred Romualdez of the Nacionalista Party ran for a third term.

Romualdez won re-election against Michael dela Cruz (Independent).

Vice Mayor

Incumbent Vice Mayor Edwin Chua of Aksyon Demokratiko retired.

Tacloban Liga ng mga Barangay president Raymund Romualdez (Nacionalista Party), son of Tacloban mayor Alfred Romualdez, won the election against his cousin, Makoy Romualdez (Independent).

City Council

The Tacloban City Council is composed of 12 councilors, 10 of whom are elected.

20 candidates were included in the ballot.

Lakas–CMD won seven seats, gaining a majority in the city council.

Election-related incidents

On April 10, Kerwin Espinosa, a mayoral candidate of Albuera, Leyte who had previously admitted to being a drug trafficker, was shot and injured along with his running-mate for vice mayor and a bystander while at a campaign rally. The next day, suspected explosive materials were discovered abandoned at his campaign headquarters.

References