Iloilo’s Top 2025 Races See Uneasy Alliances, Internal Clan Rifts

 By Rjay Zuriaga Castor and John Sitchon

ILOILO, Philippines – In the vote-rich province of Iloilo, the influence of longstanding political dynasties continues in many local districts even as family members turn against each other and new contenders join the electoral races.

The province has around 1,319,109 voters, while Iloilo City has at least 330,621 voters, based on the latest Commission on Elections (Comelec) data, making it a priority among national candidates for their campaign and strategic alliances.

Through the rivalries and dynasties, Rappler lists down the top races to follow this campaign season in Iloilo.

Iloilo City: Crumbling alliance

Iloilo City is poised to witness a political transition as Raisa Treñas-Chu, daughter of incumbent mayor Jerry Treñas, attempts to succeed her father amid a seemingly uneasy alliance with the Baronda clan.

Jerry Treñas and Iloilo City lone district Representative Julienne “Jam-Jam” Baronda were once political allies but in March 2024, Treñas announced that they would be fielding Raisa for the congressional post, signaling a rift between the two factions.

It was in June 2024 that Treñas said that he had cut ties with Baronda who he claimed was forming her own team for the upcoming 2025 polls.

However, the tides suddenly changed when Treñas opted not to pursue a final term due to health reasons. In October 2024, two of the city’s most influential political groups — Team Uswag, led by the Treñas patriarch, and Baronda’s Team Sulong Gugma — forged a unity pact.

The message of the united front was clear: to lead the city to greater heights and ensure a better tomorrow for the Ilonggos.

Under the agreement, brokered by House Speaker Martin Romualdez, neither party would challenge each other for the mayoral and congressional post.

The rest of their respective slates remain free for competition. Baronda’s sister, former city councilor Lady Julie Grace “Love-Love” Baronda, under Team Sulong Gugma, would challenge incumbent vice mayor and Team Uswag bet Jeffrey Ganzon.

Team Uswag has fielded a full 12-member slate for the city council, mostly composed of reelectionists. Team Sulong Gugma fielded 10 candidates for city council seats — a mix of returning and new faces.

Despite the supposed alliance, the top posts are not without challengers.

Raisa is facing a head-to-head battle with independent candidate and businessman Roland Magahin. On the congressional front, Baronda is up against perennial candidate Mel Carreon and Danilo Purzuelo, both running as independents.

But just a month before election day, signs of a breakdown in the Treñas- Baronda agreement started to surface.

On April 14, the mayor accused Team Sulong Gugma of endorsing Magahin, citing tarpaulins that allegedly show Baronda’s group alongside the independent mayoral candidate.

The Baronda-led group has denied Treñas’ claim, but his statement still sparked controversy and intrigue, raising questions on the united front they touted to bring continued progress to Iloilo City.

Governor unopposed

The Defensors and Birons ceased their clashing since 2019 to boost the campaign of Anilao Mayor Nathalie Ann “Lee Ann” Debuque, the vice gubernatorial candidate of last-term seeker Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr.

Both Defensor and Debuque are members of the Marcos-led Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP).

Debuque’s bid is seeing an uphill battle with former Iloilo vice governor and incumbent 5th District Representative Raul “Boboy” Tupas, who is running under Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), led by Romualdez.

Though both PFP and Lakas-CMD are allied under the administration coalition Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas, the local race paints a more fractured picture of that national unity.

The vice gubernatorial race is shaping up to be a district-by-district battleground, with Iloilo’s dominant political families aligning with either Debuque or Tupas.

At their proclamation rally, the Defensor-Debeque tandem secured the backing of key political forces: the Gorricetas of the 2nd District, Defensors of the 3rd District, and Birons of the 4th District.

The 5th District, Tupas’s own stronghold, appears divided, with some members of the family throwing their support behind Debuque. Meanwhile, the Garins of the 1st District have yet to make an official endorsement for vice governor, keeping the voters guessing about where exactly their support would go.

Defensor’s opponent, Mary Frances Chloe Noble, withdrew from the race in December 2024. Joining Debuque and Tupas for the vice governor race is Zarraga town preacher Mark John Velasco.

Garins widen reach

In the 1st District, the Garin clan continues to expand its political reach in the towns of San Joaquin, Guimbal and Miagao.

In Miagao, Mayor Richard Garin — the son of the late former Guimbal mayor Oscar Garin Sr. and San Joaquin Mayor Ninfa Garin — is seeking reelection. His wife, Iloilo 1st District Representative Janette Loreto-Garin is seeking reelection. Their daughter, Rica Jane Garin, also forayed in politics as she seeks a seat in the provincial board.

Richard faces a challenge from former ally and incumbent Miagao Vice Mayor Macario “Doc Mac” Nicer Napulan of the Liberal Party, and from Marlon Paulmanal of the Duterte-led Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Laban (PDP-Laban).

Janette’s challengers are independent candidate Rosendo Langusta and former Tubungan Mayor Victor Tabaquirao of PDP-Laban.

In Guimbal, the Garin sisters — Mayor Jennifer Garin-Collada and Iloilo Vice Governor Christine Garin are running together for Guimbal mayor and vice mayor, respectively. Their cousin, Val Serag, is vying for mayor of San Joaquin.

Family affair 

Incumbent Iloilo 2nd District Representative Michael Gorricetta took a break from politics after launching his political career as mayor of Pavia in 2013.

In the midterm elections, his wife, Kathy, is taking over the congressional post unopposed.

Michael said he did not seek reelection after considering an offer to be Defensor’s running mate and a possible national government role after his term ends.

His cousin, Pavia Mayor Luigi Gorriceta, is seeking a last term.

San Miguel Mayor Marina Luz Gorriceta, the congressman’s aunt, is running for vice mayor in the same town. Her son, Ross Paul, also entered the political arena and stepped up for the mayoral post.

Reelectionists in the 3rd District

Governor Defensor isn’t the only one seeking reelection in Iloilo. His brother, Lorenz Defensor, is also seeking to be reelected as the 3rd District representative of Iloilo.

Lorenz is one of the 11 prosecutors of the House of Representatives in the impending impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Their cousin, Provincial Board member Jason Gonzales, is also seeking reelection. His father, Lambunao Mayor Reynor Gonzales; his uncle, Lambunao Municipal Board Member Cesar Gonzales; and cousin, Lambunao Vice Mayor Arvin Losaria, are all running for reelection as well.

Lorenz and Jason have publicly endorsed senatorial candidates Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan. Both have actively campaigned for the 2022 presidential bid of former Vice President Leni Robredo.

Demoted cop versus Biron

The Biron clan are a political dynasty that has a strong hold over the 4th District of Iloilo.

Former Barotac Nuevo mayor Hernan Biron Sr.’s sons, Hernan Jr. and Ferjenel, are both seeking reelection. Ferjenel, the incumbent 4th District representative, is a Gonzales himself.

Hernan Jr. is running again for vice mayor of Barotac Nuevo, alongside Ferjenel’s son — his nephew — Barotac Nuevo Mayor Bryant Paul Biron. Bryant’s brother, Dumangas Mayor Braeden John Biron, is also seeking reelection.

Opposing Ferjenel is Charlie Sustento Jr. of the Reform PH Party, led by former Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan.

Sustento’s running mate is independent candidate Jonathan Pinuela, who is vying for the provincial board seat. Raul Tupas has also declared support for Sustento and Pineula.

Sustento was a police major, who was later demoted to a police captain rank. Pinuela, on the other hand, is a retired lieutenant colonel.

Both Pinuela and Sustento have accused Ferjenel for harassment while they were police chiefs in their respective towns in the 4th District.

Pinuela and Sustento were both suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman due to separate incidents involving allegations of grave misconduct.

Pinuela was suspended for six months in early 2022 over grave abuse of authority and grave misconduct charges related to an incident in 2019 where he accosted a civilian during the election period.

Sustento, who was dismissed from the police service in 2017 for grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming a police officer after allegedly pointing a gun at a civilian, was reinstated following a Court of Appeals decision that reduced his penalty to a one-rank demotion. In August 2021, Sustento was again suspended by the Ombudsman for an incident involving accosting a civilian.

Family rivalry

The Tupases of the 5th District find themselves in conflict with each other, as Provincial Board Member Binky Tupas challenged her brother-in-law, Niel “Junjun” Tupas Jr., for the congressional seat.

Niel is the older brother of vice gubernatorial candidate Raul Tupas, Binky’s husband.

The family’s political rift dates back to the 2016 elections when Niel Jr.’s wife, Yvonne, ran against Raul for the same congressional post. Raul, then fresh from his first term as Iloilo vice governor, emerged victorious.

The feud intensified in subsequent elections. In both 2019 and 2022, Niel and Raul went head-to-head for the congressional seat, with the younger Tupas winning on both occasions.

In the 2025 elections, the brothers initially appeared to have reconciled. After filing his certificate of candidacy, Niel said he was endorsing Raul’s bid for vice governor.

Niel’s stance, however, quickly changed – he raised Debuque’s hand during a political gathering on February 12 at the Tupas family’s ancestral home in Barotac Viejo, Iloilo.

Joining Niel at the symbolic event were his cousin, former representative Rolex Suplico, and his brother, former mayor Niel “Beng” Tupas III — both of whom are also seeking seats in the provincial board. – Rappler.com