Read Part 1: Congress won?t end reign of political dynasties
Read Part 2: 109 years of Ortegas in La Union; Gordons, Magsaysays in Zambales
(Third of four parts)
MANILA, Philippines?Bicol, one of the poorest regions in the country, has changed little, even in its politics.
Families in power for decades will likely stay on after the May 10 elections.
In Camarines Sur, the biggest province in the region in terms of districts and voters, three families dominate?the Fuentebellas, Alfelors and Villafuertes. The first two have the biggest number of candidates, while the third is considered the most influential.
Rep. Arnulfo Fuentebella is seeking reelection in the fourth district, his wife Evelyn is running for mayor of Sangay town, son Arnee for mayor of Tigaon town and nephew Emmanuel Llaguno for provincial board member.
Rep. Felix Alfelor Jr. is contesting the gubernatorial seat. His niece, Mayor Madeleine Alfelor-Gazmin of Iriga City, wants another term; brother Emmanuel is running for a congressional seat and another brother, Ruperto, for provincial board member.
While feuding at times, Luis Robredo Villafuerte Sr. and his son, Luis Raymund or ?LRay,? continue to be influential. The father is running for Congress, while the son is running for reelection as governor against Felix Alfelor Jr.
Former Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. is running for congressman in the newly created fifth district to allow President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo?s son, Dato, to run for reelection in the second district.
Cavite: Remullas vs Revillas
Cavite used to be the domain of the Remulla clan, which struggles to cling to whatever influence it has left in the province, known for its violent election past.
Juanito Victor ?Jonvic? Remulla Jr., son of Juanito Remulla, 76?who served as governor for 14 years?is running for governor. His brother, Jesus Crispin or ?Boying,? is running for reelection for congressman, this time in the seventh district.
Another Remulla, former TV journalist Gilbert, is running for senator.
Joining the clan in the quest for dominance are the Revillas.
In Bacoor town, Mayor Strike Revilla is running for reelection, while brother Sen. Ramon ?Bong? Revilla Jr. is running for reelection. The senator successfully steered a new law that created four more districts, including the lone district of Bacoor, where his wife, actress Lani Mercado, is running for representative.
Revilla?s rival, Gov. Erineo ?Ayong? Maliksi, is running for congressman in the newly created lone district of Imus. Maliksi?s son, Manny, is up for reelection for mayor of Imus.
Batangas: 2-clan rule
The Portugal and Dimacuha clans dominate the Batangas political scene.
Eduardo Dimacuha, who was mayor of Batangas City in 1988-1998 and now on his last term in the same office, fielded his wife Vilma to replace him. A son, Angelito, was city mayor from 1998 to 2001.
Eduardo?s cousin, Nestor, is shifting post from councilor to vice mayor, while a son-in-law, Councilor Marvey Marino, is seeking reelection. Vilma?s brother-in-law, Councilor Rene Cruz, wants another term.
Mayor Victor Portugal Jr. of Taysan town is running for another term, while his wife Eloisa aspires to be a councilor. His brother, Jose, is a board member.
The Ermitas are not far behind the two clans.
Former Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita is seeking a congressional seat. His daughter, Eileen Ermita-Buhain, wants a similar post in another district, while his son, Edwin, is running for vice governor.
Lazaros rule Laguna
The Lazaros are the most entrenched political family in Laguna. Dennis Lazaro, provincial administrator and son of Gov. Teresita Lazaro, plans to replace his mother.
Calamba City Mayor Jun Chipeco and his son, Rep. Timmy Chipeco, are running for reelection.
The clan of former Mayor Antonio Brion Sanchez, who is serving a life term for rape-slays, is positioning itself to regain political leadership in Calauan town.
Sanchez?s relative and Liberal Party (LP) candidate, June Joseph Faylona Brion, is challenging the wife of outgoing Mayor Buenafrido T. Berris, Felisa, an independent.
The convict?s eldest son, Allan Jun Vito or ?Dong,? is running for vice mayor, also under LP, against four others. In the 2007 elections, he challenged Berris but lost.
A second son, Allan Antonio II, won a seat in the municipal council in 2007.
Quezon: Entrenched Suarezes
In Quezon, the Suarez clan is the most deeply embedded because of the national influence of Rep. Danilo Suarez, who is seeking another term virtually unopposed. After holding the post from 1992 to 2001, his wife Aleta replaced him from 2001 to 2004.
Thereafter, he returned.
His son, David, is challenging reelectionist Gov. Rafael Nantes, while another son, Jet, is running again for councilor of Unisan town.
The Alcalas come next in terms of influence.
Rep. Proceso Alcala, 55, has been congressman since 2004, but he is giving way for his eldest son, Irvin. A brother, Vicente, is a board member and candidate for vice governor, while a nephew, Roderick, is running for councilor.
Mindoro: Long feud
In Mindoro, the Villarosa and Quintos families have long been political rivals.
Jose Tapales Villarosa, who was convicted for the murder of the Quintos brothers, ran for barangay chair and won even in detention. Now acquitted, he is running for mayor of San Jose against the reelectionist, Muloy Festin.
Jose is the husband of Rep. Girlie Villarosa, constant travel companion of President Macapagal-Arroyo and who was recently named chair of the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD party.
Marinduque: Still the Reyeses
Since the reign of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos in the ?70s, the Reyes clan has held power in Marinduque. The matriarch, Carmencita, was a member of Marcos? parliament from 1978 to 1987, a three-term representative from 1987 to 1998 and governor from 1998 to 2007.
An incumbent lawmaker, she is again running for governor on May 10.
Her son, Edmundo Jr., served as a congressman from 1998 to 2007. On May 10, he is running for congressman. Carmencita?s brother-in-law, Luisito, was governor from 1992 to 1995 and provincial administrator from 1998 to 2007.
Palawan: A bastion of dynasties
The country?s last environmental frontier is also becoming a bastion of dynasties.
Three-term Gov. Mario Joel T. Reyes is running for representative in the second district, while his wife Clara is running for vice governor.
Rep. Antonio C. Alvarez is seeking a third and final term, while his brother, Jose, is running for governor. Another Alvarez, Chickoy, is running for board member.
An opponent, Rep. Abraham Kahlil Mitra, is a son of the late Speaker Ramon Mitra. Another son, Ramon III, is running for senator.
In some towns, like Narra and Rizal, mayors leaving their posts after three terms are being replaced by spouses.
Catanduanes: Not too remote
One of the remotest provinces is not detached from the issue of dynasties.
Cousins Araceli Wong and Manuel Luis Sanchez are battling for Catanduanes? lone congressional seat against Cesar V. Sarmiento.
Gov. Joseph Cua?s brother-in-law is running for reelection for mayor of San Andres town.
Alfred Aquino, incumbent vice governor, wants another term, as well as his sister, Norma Aquino-Camantique, the vice mayor of Panganiban town.
Jose ?Cito? Alberto II, former Virac mayor, is running for the seat again. A nephew, lawyer Gerardo Wilfredo Alberto, aspires to become provincial board member. Another nephew, Joselito Alberto, is vice mayor of Bato town.
Former Marcos? information minister, Francisco ?Kit? Tatad, is running for senator, while a son, Jose Karlo, is seeking a seat in the provincial board.
Mayor Josefina Santelices of Pandan town is running for reelection against brothers and businessmen Edwin and Teddy delos Santos. A relative of Santelices, Wilfredo, is running for provincial board member.
In San Andres town, many-time Mayor Antonio Romano is running for the post that he, his wife Lydia and son Ali occupied in the last 30 years before losing to incumbent Leo Mendoza.
In Baras town, former Vice Mayor Rustom Soledad is running for mayor, while his son, Reinhard, is a reelectionist councilor.
Masbate: Long-simmering feud
The Espinosa and Kho families have tangled in almost every election in Masbate, more often resulting in violence even after the political exercise.
Maria Vida Espinosa Bravo (Lakas-Kampi-CMD), the daughter of former Rep. Tito Espinosa in the first district, is seeking the mayoral post in San Fernando town. Her husband, Rep. Narciso Bravo Jr., wants another term.
In 2007, Maria Vida?s cousin, Maloli Espinosa, ran for congressman in the second district, a post vacated by her uncle, Rep. Emilio Espinosa, also a former governor.
Assassins killed Maloli?s father, former Gov. Moises Espinosa, and her brother, Moises Espinosa Jr., who was once mayor of Masbate City.
Other Espinosa candidates in the May polls are Judith, who is running for governor and claims to be the daughter of Emilio, and Francisco Jr., who is running for vice mayor of Cataingan town.
Rep. Antonio Kho, a former governor, is again seeking a congressional seat in second district. His wife, Elisa, the incumbent governor, wants another term. She lost three times in the congressional races in previous elections.
Their son, Wilton, is the incumbent mayor of Cataingan and is seeking reelection.
Incumbent Rep. Rizalina Seachon Lanete is running for governor after serving two terms as representative of the third district. Her three sons are running for various posts.
Mayor Joshur Judd Seachon Lanete II of Placer town is running for reelection, as well as incumbent Esperanza Mayor Mac John Seachon, the son of Rizalina?s brother, former Rep. Fausto Seachon. Fausto was mayor of Pio V. Corpus town for 18 years and congressman for nine years.
Albay: Muñozes, Gonzalezes
In Camalig town in Albay, the Muñoz family reigns.
When Dr. Florencio Muñoz, who was mayor until 2001, died, his widow Paz replaced him. Their son, Rommel, won when Paz didn?t run in 2004, but lost in 2007.
Former Gov. Fernando Gonzalez is running for congressman in the third district. His wife, Linda, is a candidate for mayor of Ligao City, in tandem with their daughter, Patricia Gonzalez Austria.
Running against Linda is Steve Bichara, son of incumbent Rep. Al Francis Bichara.
In Legazpi City, Mayor Noel Rosal?s wife, Geraldine, is running to take his place. Maricar Cinco, Romulo O. Ponte, Juan Escandor Jr., Marrah Erika Lesaba, Madonna T. Virola, Delfin T. Mallari Jr., Karen Lapitan, Gerald Gene Querubin, Mar Arguelles and Joan Brodeth Toling, Inquirer Southern Luzon
