ILOILO CITY, Philippines – Senator Loren Legarda was proclaimed around midnight Wednesday as representative-elect of Antique’s lone congressional district after defeating former Antique governor Exequiel Javier with a margin of 129,471 votes.
According to Commission on Elections data, Legarda garnered 199,187 votes while Javier, whose family dominated politics in Antique for three decades, got 69,716 votes.
In an Instagram post on Wednesday, Legarda expressed excitement to serve her constituents.
The veteran lawmaker said she would prioritize measures that would provide jobs and livelihood to Antique residents.
“I have so many dreams for Antique. Excited to accomplish them all. Duro-duro gid nga salamat!”she wrote.
READ: Legarda ahead of Javier in Antique House race
Legarda’s victory ended the 32-year rule of the Javiers in Antique.
This was Legarda’s first venture into local politics after serving as a senator for 18 years.
Legarda was born in Malabon City and only established her residency at Barangay Mag-aba in Pandan town on Jan. 1, 2018, citing family roots in filing her candidacy under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).
In a statement, Legarda vowed “to do more in Antique in the next three years than (what) has been done in the last 30 years, and prove that every province has the potential to bring prosperity to its people.” (Editor: Cenon B. Bibe Jr.)