Yu Family Secures ZamboSur Stronghold, Faces Setback in Pagadian

Sherman Calotes | Mindanao People's Press 

The Yu political clan emerged as the dominant force in the recently concluded local elections in Zamboanga del Sur, capturing major elective positions across the province, though not without a significant setback.

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Provincial Board of Canvassers has officially proclaimed Divina Grace Yu as the new Governor of Zamboanga del Sur, succeeding her husband, outgoing Governor Victor Yu, and continuing the family’s political leadership in the province.

Alongside her victory, two other members of the Yu family clinched congressional seats. Joseph Yu was elected as Representative of the First District, while Jeyzel Victoria Yu secured the post as Representative of the Second District, marking a clean sweep of the province’s top executive and legislative positions at both the provincial and national levels.

In the municipality of Labangan, another family member, Janray Yu, also emerged victorious as the newly elected Mayor of Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur, further extending the clan’s political presence.

However, the Yu family faced a notable defeat in Pagadian City, where Victor Yu, the outgoing provincial governor, failed in his bid to become city mayor. The former governor’s loss in the highly contested race highlighted a break in the family’s otherwise sweeping electoral success.

Political observers note that while the Yu clan remains a formidable force in the province, Victor Yu’s mayoral defeat in Pagadian may signal changing dynamics in the city’s political landscape.

As the newly elected officials prepare to assume office, the spotlight now turns to how the Yu family will govern amid growing expectations and political shifts across Zamboanga del Sur