ILOILO – Anilao’s Mayor Nathalie Ann “Lee Ann” Debuque pulled off a stunning upset in Iloilo’s vice gubernatorial race, defeating political heavyweight and former vice governor Raul “Boboy” Tupas.
The 31-year-old’s victory marked a major win for Gov. Arthur “Toto” Defensor Jr., who handpicked Debuque as his running mate in a bold political gamble that paid off.
Based on the 2025 national and local elections partial unofficial results from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) media server as of 12:50 a.m. last night, Debuque led with 567,153 votes.
Fifth District’s Cong. Tupas only got 518,714 votes and Mark John Velasco garnered 5,654votes.
Overwhelmed by the outcome, Debuque expressed her heartfelt gratitude to Ilonggos for placing their trust in a young leader like her.
“Madamo gid nga salamat sa paghatag sang tsansa sa isa ka bataon nga babaye nga mahatagan man sang kahigayonan nga magserbisyo sa probinsya sang Iloilo. Daku ini nga bagay sa akon nga una sa tanan ginhatagan niyo ako sang tsansa nga kilalahon but at the same time ginsaligan niyo gid ako nga sa lamharon ko nga edad nga 31,mangin bise gobernador ako sang probinsya sang Iloilo,” she said in a Bombo Radyo Iloilo interview.
She also thanked her partner in good governance, Gov. Defensor, along with 2nd District’s Cong. Michael Gorriceta, 3rd Disrtict’s Cong. Lorenz Defensor, and 4th District’s Cong. Ferj Biron.
“Kag sa tanan-tanan, leaders man, pumuluyo, sa tanan kaninyo, madamo gid nga salamat. Ang inyo pagsalig kag pagkumpiyansa balikan ko gid sang maayo nga pagdumala kag serbisyo para sa kaaraydan sang tanan,” she added.
Debuque said she did not expect the results and just surrendered everything to God, saying she would accept whatever the results of the elections.
“Pero subong nga gab-i nalipay gid ako katama sa resulta… May mga numero nga wala ta gina-expect but overall, nalipay gid kita nga ginhatagan kita sang tsansa. Daku ini nga bagay, bag-ohanon ako sa patag sang pamolitika sa probinsya and we started nga very low ang awareness kay waay gid nakilala si Lee Ann Debuque but we finished strong. Madamo gid nga salamat,” she added.
Debuque began her political career in 2016 when she was first elected as mayor of Anilao at the age of 22. She succeeded her mother who previously held the position.
She successfully led Anilao local government for three consecutive terms, focusing on sustainable development and community welfare.
Gov. Defensor was a sure winner with 840,373 votes; he ran unopposed for his last and final term as governor.
Meanwhile, here are the sure congressional bet winners in the province’s five districts:
1st District
* incumbent Cong. Janette Garin – 149,671 votes
2nd District
* Kathy Gorriceta – 141,934 votes
3rd District
* incumbent Cong. Lorenz Defensor – 191,333 votes
4th District
* incumbent Cong. Ferjenel Biron – 141,240 votes
5th District
* incumbent Cong. Binky Tupas – 148,036 votes
For Provincial Board members:
1st District
* Rica Jane Garin – 124,136 votes
* Joan Basco-Germinanda – 90,298 votes
2nd District
* June Mondejar – 93, 743 votes
* Rolito Cajilig – 81,592 votes
3rd District
* Mark Palabrica – 108,198 votes
* Jason Gonzales – 102,446 votes
4th District
* Rolly Distura – 125,330 votes
* Dominic Oso – 102,197 votes
5th District
* Darl Tupas – 118, 017 votes
* Rolex Suplico – 99,467 votes
Data from the Comelec showed that the city and province of Iloilo have a total of 1,649,730 registered voters for this year’s midterm elections./PN