Political clans maintain footholds in W. Visayas

By Jennifer P. Rendon and Dolly Yasa

All politics is local. But nowadays, it’s also all in the family.

Political families in Iloilo and Negros Occidental emerged victorious in Monday’s elections, based on partial counts.

In Iloilo, familiar names such as Garin, Biron, Tupas, Defensor, and Gorriceta maintained their strongholds in the province’s five districts.

FIRST DISTRICT

Former Health Secretary Janette Garin won in her re-election bid as representative in the first district of Iloilo.

Her husband, former Rep. Richard Garin, transferred his residency and won the mayoralty race in Miag-ao town.

Janette Garin’s sister-in-law, Vice Governor Christine Garin, was unopposed in her re-election bid.

Another sister-in-law, Jennifer Garin-Colada, also ran unopposed as mayor of Guimbal. Then a vice mayor, Garin-Colada became the town’s mayor after their patriarch, former congressman and mayor Oscar Garin, succumbed to COVID-19 last year.

Another sister-in-law of Janette, Rep. Sharon Garin, is the first nominee of the Ang Asosasyon Sang Mangunguma Nga -OWA (AAMBIS-OWA) Partylist

It does not stop there as their matriarch, Ninfa Serag-Garin, was also re-elected as mayor in her hometown San Joaquin via a landslide win.

Ninfa’s nephew, incumbent Provincial Board Member Valentine Serag, was re-elected to his post.

SECOND DISTRICT

Rep. Michael Gorriceta ran unopposed in his re-election bid.

His brother, Laurence Anthony “Luigi” Gorriceta, was re-elected in landslide fashion in Pavia town.

Their patriarch, former second district Rep. Arcadio Gorriceta, passed away in 2020 due to a lingering illness.

The brothers’ aunt-in-law, Marina Gorriceta, is bound to be re-elected as mayor of San Miguel.

THIRD DISTRICT

Rep. Lorenz Defensor was re-elected in their home district.

His brother, Governor Arthur Defensor Jr, was given a fresh three-year term following a landslide win over independent candidate Noli Gil.

Their father, former Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Sr., has retired from politics after his third term.

FOURTH DISTRICT

In this side of Iloilo province, Dr. Ferjenel Biron regained his seat as congressman.

He will take over from his son, incumbent Rep. Braeden John “BJ” Biron, who ran and won the mayoralty race of Dumangas town.

Another son of Dr. Biron, Bryant Paul, won his re-election bid as mayor of Barotac Nuevo town,

Ferjenel’s brother Hernan Biron Jr, won as vice mayor of Barotac Nuevo town.

FIFTH DISTRICT

Unlike the other political families, the Tupases have a rather controversial political foray.

It started out with the conflict between brothers Rep. Raul “Boboy” Tupas and Niel “Junjun” Tupas Jr.

Even before the death of their father, former congressman and Iloilo governor Niel Sr. in 2015, conflict has been brewing between the two brothers.

In the 2016 elections, then Vice Governor Raul Tupas ran and won as representative of the fifth district against Junjun’s wife, Yvonne Angeli.

With the brother’s issues remaining unresolved, Raul and Niel Jr. squared off once more in the 2019 midterm polls. Raul defeated his older brother.

In the 2022 national and local elections, the two brothers again ran against each other, which again saw Raul as victorious.

Raul’s wife, Binky Tupas, bagged a seat in the Iloilo provincial board representing their home district.

But his sister Niellete “Tweety” Tupas-Balleza failed to win one of the two provincial board seats. Her husband Parly Balleza, did win a seat in the Sangguniang Bayan of their hometown Barotac Viejo.

Their brother Nielo “Bongbong” Tupas was reelected Barotac Viejo mayor.

But another brother, Nielito “Doc Darl” Tupas lost the vice mayoralty race in the same town.

Another relative, Atty. Evari Tupas, secured a seat in Barotac Viejo Sangguniang Bayan.

The Tupases’s sister-in-law, Candice Tupas, was reelected Iloilo City councilor.

Candice is the wife of Lex Tupas, the youngest of the brood.

FAMILY AFFAIR

The results of the election in the 5^th district of Negros Occidental were also a “family thing” in some of the towns.

In La Castellana, Mayor Rhummyla Nicor-Mangilimutan nailed her third term with 21,687 votes, defeating her former vice mayor Manuel Vera (14,855).

Mangilimutan ran with her father, former mayor Alberto Nicor, as her vice mayor and the latter also defeated former councilor Kareem Feria.

Aside from their daughter-father tandem, the mayor’s two brothers, Anejo and White Nicor, won as councilors.

In the adjacent town of Isabela, the mother-and-son tandem of incumbent mayor Dr. Irene Montilla and Juan Miguel defeated their respective opponents.

Irene got 16,499 votes to beat her former vice mayor Renato Malabor Jr. (15,403).

Juan Miguel secured 16,604 votes to defeat Malabor’s running mate, former councilor Raffy Uy (12,398).

It was a husband-and-wife affair in Binalbagan and Hinigaran towns.

Incumbent Binalbagan Mayor Alejandro Mirasol, who was gunning for his third term, beat his former political ally and former mayor Emmanuel Aranda.

Mirasol got 20,094 votes while Aranda garnered 15,452 votes.

Mirasol’s wife clinched the vice mayoralty race with 18,052, defeating Aranda’s tandem Baja Bebot (15,507).

On the other hand, incumbent Hinigaran Mayor Nadie Arceo garnered 24,983 votes to beat his challenger Mitchelle Peralta (18,399).

Arceo’s wife, Mary Grace, won the vice mayorship with 24,138 votes.

Moises Padilla Mayor Ella Yulo-Garcia clinched her second term with 10,177 votes, defeating two other opponents – former mayor Juco Nazareno (6,121) and former barangay captain Absalon Alconera (4,613).

In Himamaylan town, incumbent Mayor Raymund Tongson got 38,796 votes to earn his second term and defeat his challenger, former mayor Agustin Bascon (19,645).

Tongson’s running mate Justin Gatuslao also secured a second term with 28,723 votes against his challengers Julie Ann Vasquez (20,073) and Dboy Gatuslao (6,329).

Meanwhile, incumbent Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson with 930,889 votes to beat his challenger Atty. Juan Orola (57,456).

Incumbent Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer also secured a second term with 814,631 votes against his challenger Jonry Gargarita with 70,004 votes.

In the congressional race, Reps. Gerardo Vallamayor (1^st district) Thirdy Marañon (2^nd district), Juliet Ferrer (4^th district), and Mercedes Alvarez (6^th district) were unopposed.

Third District Congressman Francisco Benitez, brother of Bacolod City mayor-elect Alfredo Benitez, won his second term with 204,301 votes against his challenger Bernard Ferraris (16,967).

Celebrity turned politician Javi Benitez won as mayor of Victorias City with 36,263 votes, for a triple win for the Benitez clan.

Javi defeated his two other contenders, Didi Jover who got 12,925 votes and Paul Octaviano with 332 votes.