How Davao de Oro voted in the 2025 elections
The Zamora-Mabanglo dynasty partly thwarted the Gonzaga clan's attempt to notch the province's two top posts
Hello, mga kababayan!
In the 2025 elections, the Gonzaga clan tried to capture the vice gubernatorial seat to realize their goal of holding the two top posts of Mindanao’s “golden province.”
They succeeded in getting that seat, but lost their grip at the province’s helm to another political dynasty.
In a governor’s race that went down to the wire, term-limited 2nd District Representative Ruwel Peter Gonzaga (PFP) lost to ex officio Board Member and barangay captain Raul Mabanglo (Independent), who led by only 13,145 votes or 2.82 percentage points.
Mabanglo, a licensed engineer, is the spouse of 1st District Rep. Maria Carmen “Maricar” Zamora who was reelected to a fresh term. (More on that below.)
The new governor led in 5 towns, mostly in the 1st District, the province’s eastern part. He earned nearly 2/3 of the vote in the southern town of Pantukan as well as in the town of Monkayo, where the Zamoras are based.
Gonzaga won in the remaining 6 towns including the capital Nabunturan, but his lead never went over 60% in these areas.
Vice Governor
Rep. Gonzaga attempted to replace his wife, Governor Dorothy Gonzaga (PFP), who successfully slid down to vice governor in an equally close race against 2nd District Board Member Kristine Mae Caballero-Rañon (Independent).
Like Mabanglo, Caballero-Rañon also captured Pantukan and Monkayo, but those were the only towns in her column.
Gov. Gonzaga posted a lead above 60% in Compostela and Laak, and had slight majorities elsewhere.
House races
Rep. Maricar Zamora, running under the Lakas-CMD banner, easily won reelection for a second term in the 1st District, getting 67% of the vote against miner Francisco Tito and businessman Joselito Brillantes, both independent bets.
Tito has been a perennial candidate in provincial polls at least since 2013, but missed appearing on the 2022 ballot due to delays in the resolution of his bid to substitute for another aspirant for the vice governor post.
Zamora won in all towns, but her lead fell below 60% in Montevista.
Meanwhile, the open race for the 2nd District seat went to Pantukan Mayor Leonel “Jhong” Ceniza (Independent) who beat businessman Noe “Butchoy” Taojo (PFP).
Ceniza’s hometown delivered a 23,600+ vote advantage for him. He also got over 60% of the vote in neighboring Mabini.
Taojo won only in Laak and Maco.
Other local contests
Here’s a graphic showing all local results in Davao de Oro, including the 5 elected board members in each of the 2 districts.
Mabanglo’s Team Lambo slate and Gonzaga’s Byaheng Kalinaw ticket each earned 5 seats.
In the graphic, the top 15 senatorial candidates and top 5 party list groups in the province are also shown. Eleven VP Duterte-endorsed bets for senator took the top slots.
The group that topped the party list race there is Tingog Sinirangan, led by first nominee Andrew Julian Romualdez, son of House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
In addition, listed in the graphic are the winners of the contests for mayor and vice mayor in each town. They include Monkayo Mayor Manuel Zamora Jr. and Pantukan Mayor Oliver Ceniza, brothers of the province’s two lawmakers.
Overall, 5 mayors and 5 vice mayors were reelected. Six mayors and 8 vice mayors are from Lakas-CMD.
#ODIBa!
Side note: As usual, please feel free to check my work! I’m a DM, comment, or email away!