In a result that both shocked and surprised voters and political observers alike, Governor Joseph Cua, Vice Governor Peter Cua and Virac Mayor Samuel Laynes all lost their respective electoral bids last Monday, May 12, 2025, with only PBM Robert Fernandez achieving a landslide victory.
The three-termer governor, whose camp allegedly gave P1,000 each to voters, plus an extra thousand in a “special operation,” lost badly to former Mayor Sinforoso Sarmiento Jr. in the battle for mayor in the capital town of Virac.
Cua tallied only 12,937 votes, with Sarmiento garnering an overwhelming 19,825 votes.
The third candidate, Vice Mayor Arlynn Arcilla, had only 5,897 votes.
In the race for governor, Vice Gov. Cua was edged by former Catanduanes State University president Dr. Patrick Alain Azanza by a slim margin of just 362 votes.
In a contest that many expected him to win handily, the vice governor managed only 75,807 votes against Azanza’s 76,169.
The Cua camp allegedly gave P500 each to supporters while unconfirmed reports in some town claimed Azanza’s group distributed P100 cash and rice.
Retired Army Gen. Macairog Alberto placed third with 6,660 while Atty. Oliver Rodulfo was last with 2,481.
In another close race, Virac Mayor Laynes fell short with 60,598 votes as slumped to a bitter loss against incumbent Congressman Eulogio Rodriguez, who had 61,575.
The incumbent’s win in San Andres offset whatever lead Laynes had in his native town of Virac to edge ahead by just 977 votes.
Allegedly, the solon’s camp gave away cash ranging from P1,000 to P2,000 while the mayor’s group managed only to dole out P1,000 each.
Third placer PBM Jan Ferdinand Alberto also squirreled away 42,161 votes to dramatically affect the congressional contest.
Salvaging the pride of the Cua-TGP alliance was the lopsided triumph of PBM Robert Fernandez in the vice gubernatorial battle against former Vice Governor Shirley Abundo.
The Panganiban native polled a total of 91,011 votes versus the 59,963 of the lone female candidate in the top provincial post.
Not spared by the fate that struck bets named Cua was the governor’s son, Joshua Chino, who failed to get in the Magic 8 in the Sangguniang Bayan of Virac.
The Cuas’ brother-in-law, San Andres Mayor Leo Mendoza, lost badly to former Mayor Dr. Aly Romano, but the former’s son, Leo Martin, secured a seat in the municipal council.
Aside from Mendoza and Gov. Cua, three other mayors in the alliance were defeated: Bagamanoc Mayor Odilon Pascua lost to former Mayor Vincent Villaluna; Pandan Mayor Raul Tabirara was edged by former Mayor Honesto Tabligan II; and the son of three-termer San Miguel Mayor Francisco Camano Jr., Ruel, was soundly beaten by 2022 loser Antonio Teves.
Viga Vice Mayor Jennifer Tuplano will become the mayor by June after trouncing three rivals while Caramoran Mayor Glenda Aguilar won a third term.
Bato Mayor Juan Rodulfo won a third and final term, edging the congressman’s daughter, Princess Vanessa Rodriguez, by just eight votes.
Three other mayors—that of Baras, Gigmoto and Panhaniban—were unopposed.