CEBU CITY — Incumbent Governor Gwendolyn Garcia received a significant endorsement on Monday from over 800 local officials who nominated her as the 1 Cebu Party’s gubernatorial candidate for the upcoming 2025 midterm elections.
According to Philippines News Agency, the convention held at the SkyHall in SM Seaside in Cebu City came two days after the official deadline set by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for political parties to hold their conventions, a delay due to the deadline falling on a weekend. Argao Mayor Allan Sesaldo led the nomination, seconded by Liloan Mayor Aljew Frasco, with Pinamungajan Mayor Glenn Baricuatro closing the nominations. This confirmed Governor Garcia as the sole nominee endorsed by the attending officials. “It’s an honor to nominate Gov. Gwen as 1 Cebu’s official candidate for governor,” Sesaldo remarked during the sidelines of the event.
The party’s strategic move precedes the October 1 to 8 period for the filing of certificates of candidacy, nomination, and acceptance of nomination. Comelec Chair George Erwin Garcia, speaking at the National Information Summit 2025 organized by the Presidential Communications Office, highlighted that the candidates’ certificates and their statements of contributions and expenditures will be made available on the Comelec’s official website two weeks post-filing. This transparency is intended to give voters ample opportunity to familiarize themselves with their candidates.
In addition, a series of cooperation agreements were signed at the convention, strengthening ties between the 1 Cebu Party and several local political groups, including Kugi Uswag Sugbo (KUSUG) Party, Alayon-Nacionalista (NP) Party, and KAABAG Party, showcasing a unified front among Cebu’s leading political factions.