Palmares Clan’s Political Stronghold in Passi City Endures for Decades

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

(This story was updated to include Jinky Palmares, wife of Usec. Jesry Palmares, in the10th paragraph. This is part of a series of election reports examining major political dynasties in Western Visayas.)

Since becoming Iloilo province’s first component city in 1998, Passi City has remained under the influence of the Palmares family, whose grip on local governance has lasted more than two decades.
First is Jesry Palmares, who played a pivotal role in Passi’s transition from a municipality to a city.

Elected as municipal mayor in 1995, he led the charge for Passi’s cityhood, which was granted in 1998. Jesry then became the city’s first mayor, serving from 1998 to 2000.

Jesry’s leadership continued through multiple terms, as he was re-elected mayor from 2000 to 2004 and again from 2010 to 2013, reinforcing his family’s stronghold over the city’s political affairs.

In 2019, Stephen Palmares, Jesry’s nephew, took over as mayor, further cementing the family’s control over Passi’s political landscape.

While Stephen occupied the mayoralty post, Jesry was elected vice mayor in 2019 and reelected in 2022. However, his tenure was cut short when he was appointed as Undersecretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform for Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects in July 2022.

Now, Stephen is seeking reelection for his final term in the 2025 midterm elections. However, his bid for another term faces an interesting twist: one of his challengers is Letlet Palmares, one of Jesry’s nieces.

If Stephen Palmares wins in 2025, the Palmares family will have controlled the mayoralty of Passi City for a cumulative 24 years, marking their long-standing political influence since the city’s establishment.

The Palmares dynasty extends beyond the mayor and vice mayor’s office as other members of the family have occupied various government positions.

Jinky Palmares, Jesry’s wife, was elected city councilor in 2022.

Shalene Palmares-Hidalgo and Jovi “Bitoy” Palmares, both cousins of Jesry, were city councilors in 2016, with Jovi securing another term in 2019. In provincial politics, Shalene won a seat on the Iloilo Provincial Board in 2019.

Jan Brix Palmares, Stephen’s nephew, has been the president of the Passi City Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation since 2019. He was also elected as secretary-general of the Iloilo SK Federation Council in 2023.

For the 2025 elections, besides Stephen, two other members of the Palmares family, Jovi and Katherine, are also running for city councilor in Passi.

THE CHAVEZ INFLUENCE

The Palmares family’s dominance is not the only example of political entrenchment in Passi City. The Chavez family, a family friend of the Palmares, has also played a significant role in local governance.

Elyzer Chavez first served as city councilor from 1995 to 2004. The mayoralty post went to him for two terms, from 2004 to 2010.

During his administration, the Passi City College was established through the Special Ordinance No. 2005-02 which was duly approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan through a Joint Committee Report No. 01 Series of 2005 on March 28, 2005.

After a long break from politics, Chavez returned as a city councilor from 2019 to 2022. He was reelected for a city councilor post in 2022 but he assumed the vice mayoralty following Jesry’s departure in the same year.

Elyzer’s wife, Melinda Chavez, also held a seat in the city council in 2016.

As the May 2025 elections nears, the question remains: will Passi City voters continue to uphold the status quo by electing members of entrenched political families, or will new leadership rise to challenge their decades-long rule?