CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga (PIA) -- A total of 13 incumbent mayors in Pampanga succeeded in their re-election bids during the 2022 polls.
 
Angeles City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr. secured a landslide victory after garnering a total of 103,255 votes; while Mabalacat City Mayor Crisostomo Garbo defeated his two rivals with 66,151 votes.
 
As the first and only mayor in the history of Angeles to have garnered more than 100,000 votes in a single election, Lazatin thanked Angeleños for their support and for giving him another chance to serve them, as he vowed to further improve the city’s services to its people. 
 
“Our platform is centered on the city’s economic recovery following the pandemic, health and social welfare, and sustainability. The city government will start providing alternative livelihood and trainings to Angeleños displaced from their jobs due to the pandemic. We will also establish Kanlungan ng Kabataan haven for street children where they will be cared for, educated, and reintegrated into society. We will also continue the Angeles City Watershed Reforestation Program to ensure a sustainable water source for future generations of Angeleños,” he said. 
 
Meanwhile, Garbo thanked Mabalaqueños for reaffirming through their ballots their choice for a governance that firmly stands on integrity, honesty, credibility and unwavering service. 

“We shall endeavor once again to deliver to expectations anchored in our ‘Bayung Mabalacat’ vision. We shall also continue to challenge ourselves to do even more in pushing our beloved city and its people to greater success. I and the Team MCG once again offer an open-door policy where even those from different side could have places in serving our people without conditions,” he assured. 
 
Aside from the two city mayors, 11 towns also chose to re-elect their mayors including Eduardo Datu of Bacolor with 26,299 votes; Rene Maglanque of Candaba with 39,194 votes; Darwin Manalansan of Floridablanca with 26,694 votes; Teddy Tumang of Mexico with 52,385 votes; Leonardo Flores of Macabebe with 21,385 votes; Jaime Capil of Porac with 39,031 votes; and Abundio Punsalan Jr. of San Simon with 17,078 votes. 
 
Re-elected unopposed are Apalit Mayor Oscar Tetangco Jr. with 41,635 votes; Lubao Mayor Esmie Pineda with 58,829 votes; Santa Ana Mayor Norberto Gamboa with 15,359 votes; and San Luis Mayor Jayson Sagum with 24,528 votes. 
 
Sagum thanked his supporters and appeal to the public to support whoever wins in each town, province, and the country; and to work together for the development of the nation. 
 
“Here in San Luis, we will continue the projects that have helped our constituents. In the next three years, we will implement more programs and projects, especially since Covid cases are now low, our priority as Filipinos is how to recover the economy of every barangay, town, province, and the country,” he said. 
 
Meanwhile, eight towns and one city elected new mayors including Arayat Mayor-elect Madeth Alejandrino with 17,268 votes; and City of San Fernando Mayor-elect Vilma Caluag with 57,486 votes, who are both first time lady mayors in the history of their local governments. 
 
Other newly elected mayors who are set on a fresh term are Guagua Mayor-elect Joseph Anthony Torres with 27,150 votes; Masantol Mayor-elect Jose Antonio Bustos with 17,869 votes; Minalin Mayor-elect Philip Naguit with 13,153 votes; Santa Rita Mayor-elect Art Salalila with 12,423 votes; and Sasmuan Mayor-elect Catalina Bagasina Cabrera with 9,373 votes. 
 
First termer Bustos thanked his constituents for the love and support, and for allowing him to represent them and lead change they have been waiting for.
 
“To parents and the elders, thank you for allowing the youth to stand up today. To my fellow youth, let us win this battle, this movement, because the youth will be the ones to move for our future,” he said. 
 
And lastly, two former local chief executives are now returning to their old posts after losing in the 2019 midterm polls.
 
They are Malu Paras-Lacson of Magalang who garnered 38,560 votes and John Sambo of Sto. Tomas with 15,126 votes (CLJD/MJSC-PIA 3)