James Bryan Alcid is proclaimed as the new mayor of Laoag City, May 12, 2025. Pia Gutierrez, ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- James Bryan Alcid was proclaimed mayor of the city of Laoag in Ilocos Norte on Monday night, after he defeated the incumbent, Michael Marcos Keon.

The Laoag City Board of Canvassers proclaimed Alcid the winner of the city's mayoral race shortly before midnight Monday, after he was able to garner a total 36,365 votes from the city's 116 clustered precincts.

"I projected some numbers, pero hindi ko inassume na yung voters turnout natin ngayon is 72,000-73,000. Kasi the last Presidential elections, ang bumoto lang dito is 68,000. Nakakagulat talaga. Siguro ang mga constituents natin talaga, they want change," Alcid said.

Ilocos Norte First District Representative Sandro Marcos and Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Manotoc were both present in the proclamation to show support to Alcid.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. himself had endorsed Alcid's bid over his own cousin, Michael Keon.

As local chief executive, Alcid vowed to focus on improving the city's healthcare and waste disposal services, and address issues in the Laoag Public Market.

The new mayor meanwhile wished Keon well, saying that both of them had no bad blood between them. 

"Alam naman nya we had no rift naman talaga, we never quarreled naman, alam n'ya yan. I respected him as the mayor for the past three years. So wala syang masasabi sa relationship at respect ko sa kanya. So I wish him all the best. I'll keep an open line with Mayor Michael, walang problema sa akin," he said.

Reelectionist Vice Mayor Carlos Fariñas secured himself a second term after winning the vice mayoralty race in the midterm polls with a total 40,387 votes.

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