ALBAY, Philippines – Tabaco City Mayor Krisel Lagman secured the congressional seat of her late father, Edcel Lagman, in the midterm elections on Monday, May 12, defeating a challenger from the powerful Ako Bicol Partylist.
She garnered 105,171 votes, defeating incumbent Ako Bicol Party Representative Jil Bongalon who got 88,895, winning by a margin of over 16,000 votes, based on partial, unofficial results sourced from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Media Server with 82.8% of precincts reporting as of 10:01 am on Tuesday.
Bongalon, who ran under the Lakas-CMD party, conceded to the Liberal Party candidate on Tuesday morning.
“With a heart full of gratitude, humility, and hope, I offer my most sincere congratulations to Mayor Krisel Lagman on her victory,” he said in a Facebook post.
“This election was never driven by personal ambitions. It was about service, about fighting for improved opportunities, and striving for genuine, impactful change. We may have lost the vote, but we have not lost our voice, our values, or our vision for a better future. In defeat, I remain committed.”
Lagman, who often wore pink during her election campaign, thanked voters in the 1st District for choosing her.
“It is with immense gratitude that I acknowledge your trust, love, and commitment, First District. I feel immense happiness for your continued patronage of service delivered with a heart. Indeed, those who love deeply fight for whom they love. Thank you for your unwavering support. You will always be first in the heart of the Lagman family. Dios Mabalos!” she said in the local language.
Krisel disclosed in an earlier interview with Rappler that her late father, a longtime stalwart of the Liberal Party, had prepared and guided their family’s decision to seek public office again this year.
She emphasized that her run for the 1st District post was not out of obligation but stemmed from lessons learned from implementing laws as Tabaco City chief executive, and how to address these via legislation.
“Even before Papa passed, he guided my decision to run,” Lagman told Rappler on April 19. “His legislative agenda has always been the same with mine since I began serving, and now, as the representative of the 1st District of Albay, my focus will be on amending laws to better address the needs of our people.”
Before becoming the district representative in the 11th and 12th Congress from 1998 to 2001, Lagman also served as a barangay chairperson. Later, she became a board member in the Albay provincial government. In 2007, she made history as the first woman mayor of Tabaco City.
“Having served in local government since 2007, I aim to bring my grassroots knowledge to Congress, which will be invaluable in revisiting the gaps in our existing laws. This experience will ensure I effectively represent the concerns of our constituents,” Lagman added.
As the eldest child, she vowed to continue her father’s legacy by focusing on legislation concerning human rights, public health, and social pensions for senior citizens and solo parents. She stated that prior to her father’s run for his last term, they had already discussed these concerns and agreed that such issues should be their legislative focus.
“Sharing Papa’s sentiments, my focus will be on strengthening the rights and benefits of senior citizens and solo parents. All senior citizens deserve equal benefits, not solely based on poverty, but recognizing their hard work in their younger years. We need to provide them with the support and help they once gave us, instead of supporting programs like AKAP where the true beneficiaries are uncertain,” she said.
The Lagmans have occupied the 1st District congressional seat uninterrupted for almost 38 years. Lagman is set to serve as 1st District representative until 2028. – Rappler.com
