Nelson Garcia accepted his defeat with hopes that Efren “Gungun” Gica will make a good mayor of Dumanjug town.
“It’s water under the bridge now. If that’s what the people wants, I respect their decision and accept my defeat,” Garcia told reporters hours after the election results of the town came out.
The Municipal Board of Canvassers proclaimed Gica on Tuesday dawn after the last clustered precinct of barangay Kanyuko was transmitted. Gica earned 15,577 votes while Garcia only earned 10,631.
“I congratulate the Vice Mayor (Gica) since he was successful on his plans to become the next mayor of this town,” Garcia said.
Garcia ran under the One Cebu Party with Ricardo Condes, who also lost the vice mayoral race to Liberal Party (candidate) and running mate of Gica, Rainero Asentista.
Garcia claimed that one of his barangay officials confided to him that Gica’s camp was allegedly involved in vote buying and using armed goons. H said they were never arrested by the police since Insp. Rogelio Amoroso, sided with them.
“Let’s set aside politics and unite for the town’s sake. I am hoping that there will be peace for Dumanjug,” he said. With his defeat, he said he will be attend to his family.