Former Vice President Atty. Leni Robredo has been officially proclaimed the first female mayor of Naga City, Camarines Sur, after a sweeping victory in the 2025 midterm elections held Monday, May 12.
Robredo garnered an overwhelming 84,259 votes, equivalent to 91.6% of the total votes cast, according to partial and unofficial results from the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, May 13, Robredo thanked her fellow Nagueños for their resounding support:
“Thank you very much, my fellow Nagueños, for the overwhelming support – 84,259 votes equivalent to 91.6% of those who voted. Thank you also for your support to An Bagong Team Naga!!”
Robredo also celebrated the strong performance of her political allies in the national elections. Former senators Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan, both close to Robredo, are among the top names in the senatorial race. The Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list, where former Senator Leila de Lima is the first nominee, is poised to win a seat in the House of Representatives with over 400,000 votes.
“We are still in euphoric disbelief of Bam and Kiko’s come-from-behind win. All our sacrifices and gambles paid off!!! Thank you to the Filipino people. Buhay na buhay ang pag-asa,” Robredo said.
Robredo’s mayoral run came as a surprise to many, including residents of Naga, who expected her to seek another national post. In a June 2024 interview with RMN DWNX Naga, she revealed that her decision to run was prompted by unresolved local controversies, including issues related to jueteng (illegal gambling) that reportedly resurfaced under former mayor and now Camarines Sur Congressman Nelson Legacion.
“Naging option lang sakuya si pagdalagan ning mayor pagkatapos magruluwasan ining mga issue… para sako may mga issue kaipuhang simbagon, hanggang ngunyan gulpi pang dai pa nasisimbag, kaya may necessity na mag step in,” she said.
Robredo vowed to restore transparency and public trust in local governance. Her administration is expected to focus on delivering basic services such as water, electricity, traffic management, and flood control.
Robredo’s victory also brings full circle the legacy of her late husband, Jesse Robredo, who served as Naga mayor for 19 years and earned national recognition for his “tsinelas leadership” style—humble, accessible, and transparent governance. Jesse tragically died in a plane crash in 2012 while serving as Interior Secretary under President Benigno Aquino III.
Before her vice presidency (2016–2022), Robredo served as congresswoman for Camarines Sur’s 3rd District. In 2022, she made an unsuccessful presidential bid but gained admiration for her integrity, platform, and grassroots support.
