Local elections were held in

Cebu City Cebu City, officially the City of Cebu ( ceb, Dakbayan sa Sugbo; fil, Lungsod ng Cebu; hil, Dakbanwa sang Sugbo), is a 1st class Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Central Visayas Regions of the P ...

on May 9, 2022 within the Philippine general election. Registered voters of the city will be electing candidates for the following elective local posts: mayor, vice mayor, district representative, and eight councilors

at-large At large (''before a noun'': at-large) is a description for members of a governing body who are elected or appointed to represent a whole membership or population (notably a city, county, state, province, nation, club or association), rather than ...

for each district. There are two legislative districts in the city.

Background

Prior to his death on November 19, 2021, then mayor

Edgardo Labella Edgardo Colina Labella (; May 22, 1951 – November 19, 2021) was a Filipino politician and lawyer who served as the mayor of Cebu City from 2019 until his death in 2021. Prior to becoming mayor, he was the city's vice mayor from 2013 to 2019 a ...

chose not to seek re-election in 2022, paving the way for then vice mayor Michael Rama to seek a return to his old post as mayor. Rama, who previously served as mayor from 2010 to 2016, teamed up with incumbent city councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia as his candidate for vice mayor whom he competed against for the position of vice mayor in

2007 File:2007 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Steve Jobs unveils Apple's first iPhone; TAM Airlines Flight 3054 overruns a runway and crashes into a gas station, killing almost 200 people; Former Pakistani Prime Minister of Pakistan, Pr ...

but has since become allies when the latter's political party KUSUG endorsed Rama's re-election in 2013. Margarita Osmeña, a former city councilor and wife of former mayor Tomas Osmeña, has also decided to throw her hat into the mayoral race together with incumbent city councilor Franklyn Ong as her candidate for vice mayor. Ong is currently serving as Kasambagan barangay captain and as

ex officio member An ''ex officio'' member is a member of a body (notably a board, committee, council) who is part of it by virtue of holding another office. The term '' ex officio'' is Latin, meaning literally 'from the office', and the sense intended is 'by right ...

of the

Cebu City Council The Cebu City Council (Filipino: Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Cebu) is the legislature of Cebu City, Philippines. The legislative body is composed of 18 councilors, with 16 councilors elected from Cebu City's two councilor districts and two elec ...

representing the

Liga ng mga Barangay The Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas (League of Barangays in the Philippines) and the Asosasyon ng mga Kapitan ng Barangay (Association of Barangay Captains) or ABC are formal organizations of all the barangays in the Philippines. Presently, al ...

- Cebu City Chapter. Osmeña has previously served as acting mayor from May 17, 2016 to June 30, 2016 with the suspension of then mayor Rama. If elected, Osmeña will be the first woman mayor of the city. Several personalities have also filed their candidacies such as incumbent city councilor David Tumulak as mayor, former city administrator Bimbo Fernandez as vice mayor, actor and businessman

Richard Yap Richard Edison Uy Yap (born May 18, 1967) is a Filipino actor, singer, model and businessman of Chinese descent. He is best known for portraying Richard "Sir Chief" Lim in ''Be Careful with My Heart'' and "Papa Chen" in ''My Binondo Girl''. ...

representative Representative may refer to: Politics *Representative democracy, type of democracy in which elected officials represent a group of people *House of Representatives, legislative body in various countries or sub-national entities *Legislator, someon ...

of Cebu City's 1st congressional district, and former mayor Tomas Osmeña as

of Cebu City's 2nd congressional district. However, Osmeña withdrew his candidacy days before the substitution deadline and was replaced by BG Rodrigo Abellanosa, son of Rodrigo Abellanosa.

Term-limited and retiring incumbents

The following are "third-termers", who are term limited.

Congressional representative

* Rodrigo Abellanosa ( BOPK/ LDP)

Councilors

* David Tumulak ( BARUG/

Nacionalista The Nacionalista Party (Filipino and Spanish: ''Partido Nacionalista''; ) is the oldest political party in both the Philippines and in Southeast Asia in general. It is responsible for leading the country throughout the majority of the 20th ce ...

) * Eugenio Gabuya Jr. ( BOPK/ LDP)

Candidates

Official candidates

The Commission on Elections is expected to publish a final list of accepted candidates by early 2022.

Filed certificates of candidacies

The following have filed certificates of candidacies, formally notifying the commission that they are running.

Mayor

; October 4 * Edgar Concha Jr. (

Independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s * Independ ...

), call center agent ; October 7 * Margarita Osmeña ( BOPK/ LDP), former city councilor, term limited in 2019 * Crisologo Saavedra Jr. (

), businessman * David Tumulak (

), incumbent city councilor ; October 8 * Jose Layon (

Reporma The Partido para sa Demokratikong Reporma ( en, Party for Democratic Reform; PDR), commonly known as Partido Reporma, is a political party in the Philippines. History It was founded by former Defense Secretary Renato de Villa when he left th ...

) * Juanito Luna (

) * Michael Rama ( BARUG/

PDP–Laban Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (), abbreviated as PDP–Laban, is a democratic socialist List of political parties in the Philippines, political party in the Philippines founded in 1982. It was part of the country's ruling party al ...

), incumbent vice mayor and former mayor

Vice Mayor

; October 4 * Bimbo Fernandez ( Liberal Party), former undersecretary of interior and local government and former city administrator ** Fernandez was initially endorsed by a group of non-government organizations to run for mayor but opted to run for vice mayor. ; October 5 * Franklyn Ong ( BOPK/ LDP), incumbent city councilor and president of Liga ng mga Barangay - Cebu City Chapter ; October 8 * Raymond Alvin Garcia ( KUSUG/

), incumbent city councilor

1st District Representative

; October 3 *

( NUP), actor and businessman, lost election in 2019 ; October 5 *

Rachel del Mar Rachel Marguerite "Cutie" Borromeo del Mar (born November 3, 1966) is a Filipina politician. She served as the representative for the 1st district of Cebu City from 2010 to 2013. Early life and education A native of Cebu City, del Mar spent ...

( BOPK/ NPC), former

of Cebu City's 1st congressional district ; October 8 * Prisca Niña Mabatid ( BARUG/

), incumbent city councilor * Manuel Momongan (

) * Avenescio Piramide (

Lakas–CMD Lakas–Christian Muslim Democrats, abbreviated as Lakas–CMD and also known simply as Lakas, is a political party in the Philippines. Lakas–CMD is considered to sit on the centre-right of the political spectrum, and is influenced by Christi ...

)

2nd District Representative

; October 8 * Eduardo Rama Jr. ( BARUG/ PDP-Laban), incumbent city councilor

1st District Representative

; October 1 * Gian Aznar ( PROMDI), former seafarer and teacher ; October 5 * Lea Ouano-Japson ( PROMDI/ LDP), incumbent city councilor * Winston Pepito (

), incumbent Bacayan barangay councilor *

Joy Augustus Young Joy Augustus Go Young is a Filipino politician currently serving as a member of the City Council representing Cebu City's North District. He served as Vice Mayor of Cebu City from 2010 to 2013 and was a member of the Philippine House of Repres ...

( BOPK/ LDP), incumbent city councilor and former vice mayor ; October 7 * Sisinio Andales ( BOPK/ LDP), former city councilor * Nestor Archival ( BOPK/ LDP), incumbent city councilor * Alvin Arcilla ( BOPK/ LDP), former city councilor * Arturo Barrit ( BOPK/ LDP), spokesperson of Associated Labor Union-

Trade Union Congress of the Philippines The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) is the largest national trade union center in the Philippines. Founded in 1975 by labor leader Democrito Mendoza, TUCP is affiliated with the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions and ...

(ALU-TUCP) * Alvin Dizon ( BOPK/ LDP), incumbent city councilor ; October 8 * Pastor Alcover Jr. ( BARUG/

), former city councilor, lost re-election in 2019 * Maria Buanghug ( BARUG/

), vendors group leader * Mary Ann de los Santos ( BOPK/ LDP), former city councilor * Roland Empleo (Katipunan ng Kamalayang Kayumanggi) * Joel Garganera (

), incumbent city councilor * Jerry Guardo ( BARUG/

), incumbent city councilor * Edwin Jagmoc (

), former city councilor * Emmanuel Labella (

), brother of mayor

* Edgardo Labella II ( BARUG/

), son of mayor

, lost election in 2016 * Reynald Lauron ( PANAGHIUSA/ Aksyon Demokratiko), incumbent Cambinocot barangay captain * Melvin Legaspi ( BARUG/

), lawyer * Peter Mancao ( BARUG/

), deputy task force leader of the city's Covid-19 vaccine rollout * Noel Eleuterio Wenceslao ( BARUG/

), former city councilor, lost re-election in 2016

2nd District Councilor

; October 5 * Raul Alcoseba ( BOPK/ LDP), incumbent city councilor ; October 6 * Alejandro Cabido (

) * Janet Calleno (

) ; October 7 * Josephine Abella-Maglasang ( BOPK/ LDP), sister of the late Atty. Amay Abella * Gremar Barete ( BOPK/ LDP), incumbent Buhisan barangay captain * Roberto Cabarrubias ( BOPK/ LDP), former city councilor * Cornelio Jaca ( BOPK/ LDP), retired Municipal Trial Courts in Cities judge * Omar Kintanar ( BOPK/ LDP), incumbent Cogon Pardo barangay councilor * Ana Gabriela Beatriz Osmeña ( BOPK/ LDP), daughter-in-law of former mayor Tomas Osmeña ; October 8 * Raymundo Crystal ( PANAGHIUSA) * James Anthony Cuenco ( BARUG/

), incumbent city councilor ** Assumed office on September 15, 2020 to replace his father,

Antonio Cuenco Antonio "Tony" Veloso Cuenco (March 26, 1936 – June 27, 2020) was a Filipino politician who served as a council member for the 2nd District of the Cebu City Council. He also served as the Secretary-General of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Asse ...

. * Alan Dinampo (Katipunan ng Kamalayang Kayumanggi) * Harry Eran ( BARUG/

), incumbent Cogon Pardo barangay captain * Pancrasio Esparis ( BARUG/

), incumbent Quiot barangay captain * Rey Gealon ( BARUG/

), incumbent city legal officer * Donaldo Hontiveros (

), incumbent city councilor * Renato Osmeña Jr. ( BARUG/

), incumbent city councilor * Samuel Panilagao (

) * Jocelyn Pesquera ( BARUG/ PDP-Laban), former city councilor * Simeon Romarate ( PANAGHIUSA), incumbent Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP) head * Phillip Zafra (

), incumbent city councilor

Candidates who withdrew

These are the candidates who have filed candidacies, but later withdrew: * Michael Bantasan ( NUP) ** On October 8, Bantasan filed to run for

of Cebu City's 2nd congressional district. On October 12, Bantasan withdrew his candidacy. * Tomas Osmeña ( BOPK/ LDP), former mayor ** On October 7, Osmeña filed to run for

of Cebu City's 2nd congressional district. On November 12, Osmeña withdrew his candidacy and was substituted by BG Rodrigo Abellanosa, son of Rodrigo Abellanosa. * Michael Matañoza ( PROMDI) ** On October 8, Matañoza filed to run for

mayor of Cebu City The mayor of Cebu City ( ceb, Punong Dakbayan sa Sugbo) is the chief executive of the government of Cebu City in the Philippines. The mayor leads the city's departments in executing ordinances and delivering public services. The mayorship is a t ...

. On November 15, Matañoza withdrew his candidacy. * Clifford Jude Niñal ( BOPK/ LDP), incumbent San Nicolas Proper barangay captain ** On October 7, Niñal filed to run for 2nd district councilor of Cebu City. On November 15, Niñal withdrew his candidacy and was substituted by Jose Lorenzo Abellanosa, son of Rodrigo Abellanosa.

Declined to be candidates

For mayor

* Rodrigo Abellanosa ( BOPK/ LDP), incumbent

of Cebu City's 2nd congressional district ** Abellanosa considered running for city mayor but ultimately gave way to Margarita Osmeña. * Chuck Barandog, police official * Tomas Osmeña ( BOPK/ LDP), former mayor and former

of Cebu City's 2nd congressional district

For 1st District representative

* Mary Ann de los Santos ( BOPK/ LDP), former city councilor ** De los Santos, who unsuccessfully ran for vice mayor in 2019, opted to run for city councilor. * Mariano Osmeña ( PROMDI), businessman

For 2nd District representative

* Jocelyn Pesquera ( BARUG/ PDP-Laban), former city councilor ** Pesquera, who unsuccessfully ran for

of Cebu City's 2nd congressional district in 2019, opted to run for city councilor.

For 1st District councilor

* Garry Lao, former Cebu City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention head and incumbent City of Lapu-Lapu Office for Substance Abuse Prevention head

For 2nd District councilor

* Gerardo Carillo, former city councilor * Jessica Resch, incumbent Sangguniang Kabataan Federation - Cebu City president

Non-candidates

( BARUG/

) – Died on June 27, 2020. ** Served his first term as Cebu City councilor. *

Raul del Mar Raul Veloso del Mar (March 20, 1941 – November 16, 2020) was a Filipino politician who served as the Representative of Cebu City's 1st district three times: from 1987 to 1998, from 2001 to 2010, and from 2013 until his death in 2020. He wa ...

( BOPK/

Liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * a supporter of liberalism ** Liberalism by country * an adherent of a Liberal Party * Liberalism (international relations) * Sexually liberal feminism * Social liberalism Arts, entertainment and m ...

) – Died on November 16, 2020. ** Served his third and last term as representative of Cebu City's 1st District. *

( BARUG/

) – Died on November 19, 2021. ** Did not seek re-election for

Opinion polling

Mayoralty and vice mayoralty elections

Mayor

Margarita Osmeña, a former city councilor and wife of former mayor Tomas Osmeña, is challenging incumbent mayor Michael Rama for the position of

mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well a ...

. Outgoing city councilor David Tumulak has also joined the race as an independent candidate.

Vice mayor

Incumbent city councilors Raymond Alvin Garcia and Franklyn Ong are competing for the position of vice mayor along with former city administrator Bimbo Fernandez.

District representatives

1st District

Actor

is running again as 1st district representative after losing to the late

in the

2019 elections The following elections were scheduled to occur in 2019. The International Foundation for Electoral Systems has a calendar of upcoming elections around the world, and the National Democratic Institute also maintains a calendar of elections in coun ...

. Yap will face off with former party mate and incumbent city councilor Prisca Niña Mabatid and del Mar's daughter Rachel, who previously served as the district's representative from 2010 to 2013.

2nd District

BG Rodrigo Abellanosa is eyeing to succeed his father, incumbent district representative Rodrigo Abellanosa. He will face off against Eduardo Rama Jr., an incumbent city councilor and nephew of incumbent mayor Michael Rama.

City Council elections

Incumbents The incumbent is the current holder of an office or position, usually in relation to an election. In an election for president, the incumbent is the person holding or acting in the office of president before the election, whether seeking re-ele ...

are expressed in italics.

By ticket

Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino/ Bando Osmeña – Pundok Kauswagan

Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan/ Partido Barug/ Kugi Uswag Sugbo

Aksyon Demokratiko

Katipunan ng Kamalayang Kayumanggi

Partido Panaghiusa

Partido Para sa Demokratikong Reporma

PROMDI

Independents

By district

1st District

*Key: ''Italicized'': incumbent

2nd District

*Key: ''Italicized'': incumbent

Notes

References

{{Central Visayas elections 2022 Philippine local elections Elections in Cebu City May 2022 events in the Philippines