PFP candidate wins Batanes gov race

Ronald "Jun" Aguto Jr. of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) has won the gubernatorial race in Batanes, a province traditionally considered a Liberal Party (LP) stronghold.

Aguto, a former National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) official, secured the win with 3,947 votes.

Despite Aguto's victory, his party's candidate for congresswoman, Marilou Cayco, who is the incumbent governor, lost her bid.

Cayco, who shifted to PFP for this election after previously running under the LP, was defeated by incumbent Representative Ciriaco Gato Jr. of the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC).

Aguto narrowly defeated Medardo "Jun" Abad Jr. of the NPC by only 209 votes.

The LP's gubernatorial candidate, Ignacio "Nanoy" Villa, secured third place with 2,018 votes.

The Provincial Board of Canvassers proclaimed the winners on election day, May 12, after counting votes from 84.13% of the registered voters in Batanes, which has the smallest voting population among all Philippine provinces.