Iloilo mourns death of ‘political kingpin’ Oscar Garin

Oscar Garin Sr.

ILOILO CITY, Iloilo, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte finished a far third in the May 2016 presidential elections in Iloilo province, then a bailiwick of the Liberal Party.

But in Guimbal town, 33 kilometers southwest of Iloilo City, the President narrowly lost to former Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II by two votes.

Guimbal Mayor-elect Oscar “Oca” Garin Sr. then told the Inquirer the President could have won in his town if not for “false” text messages days before the election that he was supporting Roxas, whom the rest of his family backed.

The election result in his town displayed the vaunted political machinery of Garin.

It was also a classic display of his political astuteness and adroitness that has made his family the dominant political force in Iloilo’s first congressional district for decades.

Garin, 80, a civil engineer and one of the political kingpins in the province, passed away on Sunday while battling COVID-19.

His passing reverberated in the province as his family and supporters mourned, and political leaders extended their condolences and lauded his legacy.

“… Mayor Oca will be long remembered for the pioneering projects he initiated that shaped the first district into what it is today,” Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. said.

Defensor described Garin as a “charismatic leader who held the absolute love and loyalty of his people.”

For Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, Garin’s brand of leadership has “brought a lot of improvements and helped a lot of his constituents” in his district.

Garin not only served multiple terms as congressman of the first district and mayor of Guimbal but was also administrator of the Philippine Coconut Authority and presidential assistant for Western Visayas during the administration of former President Joseph Estrada.

All in the family

His family has held key positions for decades in their district composed of the towns of Guimbal, Igbaras, Miag-ao, Oton, San Joaquin, Tigbauan and Tubungan.

His wife Ninfa is mayor of San Joaquin town and his daughter-in-law, former Health Secretary Janette Loreto-Garin, is the current congressional representative.

His eldest child and namesake Oscar “Richard” Garin Jr. also served as congressman, mayor, provincial board member and vice governor.

The eldest daughter, Guimbal Vice Mayor Jennifer Garin-Colada, was sworn into her father’s post hours after his death.

Another daughter, Sharon, is AAMBIS-OWA party list representative while the youngest, Christine, is in her second term as Iloilo vice governor.

Critics and political rivals had accused Garin of stifling any opposition to his family’s dominance and even of despotism.

But his supporters, spanning generations, have remained loyal to his family.

“Oca helped his town mates and supporters even when he was just starting in politics and they have repaid him with loyalty and support,” a close family friend said.

Such was the influence of the Garin political machinery that politicians seeking national office would court his support during elections.

—NESTOR P. BURGOS JR.