Ella Garcia-Yulo proclaimed as mayor of Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental

Ella Garcia-Yulo, incumbent vice mayor of Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental, was proclaimed mayor of the municipality early Tuesday, according to a report by GMA News' JP Soriano.

Garcia-Yulo won over incumbent Mayor Magdaleno "Magsie" Peña, who is also her uncle. She got 13,056 votes, while Peña received 5,493 votes.

For Garcia-Yulo, whose brother and nephew were killed in an ambush, the victory is bittersweet. 

"You want to be happy but you're not really happy," she said, adding that Tuesday is also the death anniversary of her father.

She added, however, that it's very clear that the people of Moises Padilla want Peña out.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier visited the municipality and expressed condolences to the family over the ambush, and guaranteed justice, truth, a fair and honest trial, and safety for the voting public.

Garcia-Yulo said such guarantee for their safety from no less than the President himself made the people go out and cast their votes.

The Commission on Elections earlier put Moises Padilla under its direct control after the ambush. Military tanks patrolled the municipality.

Meanwhile, proclaimed vice mayor on Tuesday was Ian Villaflor who got 13,612 votes. —KG, GMA News