Cebu’s Garcia clan thanked Cebuanos on Tuesday for supporting the candidacy of Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia, following her loss to former President Rodrigo Duterte’s ally, Pamela Baricuatro, in the gubernatorial race in the province.

“Thank you to everyone who supported my sister, Gov. Gwen Garcia, in the recent elections. Every single effort you gave, from your votes, your support, and your time, was deeply felt and truly appreciated,” said former Government Service Insurance System president and general manager Winston Garcia in a Meta post on Tuesday.

Baricuatro, who ran under the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), was proclaimed on Tuesday by the Cebu Provincial Board of Canvassers as the winning governor for Cebu after canvassing votes cast in 51 cities and municipalities in the province.

As of 6:30 PM on 13 May, based on 98.18% of election returns from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) media server, Baricuatro garnered 1,092,525 votes, while Garcia received 750,102 votes.

“As her brother, I am proud of Gwen’s years of dedicated public service and the lasting contributions she has made to the progress of Cebu. Though the outcome of this election was not what we hoped for, I know her passion for serving Cebu and its people remains as strong as ever. I look forward to seeing her continue to make a difference in new and meaningful ways,” Garcia said.

He also greeted Baricuatro with a congratulatory message, adding that the people of Cebu have already spoken, advising the winning governor that she now carries a clear mandate to serve and fulfill her plans for the province.

“As a fellow Cebuano, I pray for your success and the continued progress of our beloved Cebu. Elections may come and go, but our shared love for Cebu unites us all. Let us move forward together, with respect and hope, for a better and brighter future for our province,” Garcia said.

Baricuatro heads the humanitarian organization Simply Share Foundation and was a former secretary general of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Partido Federal ng Pilipinas.

“This victory is not only my victory, it’s the victory of the province of Cebu, and it’s also the victory of former President Rodrigo Duterte. So, the people have spoken. They have voted for the governor that he endorsed, so I share this victory with him,” Baricuatro told reporters before her proclamation on Tuesday.