For first time in 56 years, no Joson running for Ecija gov

CABANATUAN CITY—For the first time in more than half a century, no member of the Joson clan is running for governor of Nueva Ecija province in the May 9 elections.

This political rarity has led a few pundits to ask if the family has faded away in politics.

The Joson clan produced a succession of governors, began by a father and followed by two of his sons, since 1959, not to mention Josons who were elected in other posts.

“We are not shying away from politics. We still have candidates (from the clan) for various elective posts,” said Tomas Joson III, former governor and eldest son of the patriarch, Eduardo, who was the undisputed leader of the province for 39 years.

“I am active in running the affairs of our family-launched political party Bagong Lakas ng Nueva Ecija (Balane) as its chair,” Tomas said.

He said the family’s decision not to field a candidate for governor in the May 9 elections would give an ally the chance to run.

“We are supporting the [gubernatorial] candidacy of (Rodolfo) Antonino,” Joson said. Antonino, who served as representative of Nueva Ecija’s fourth district, is running under United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), which is allied with Balane.

Joson, who was governor from 1992 to 1995 and again from 1998 to 2007, said he decided to concentrate as chair of Balane.

His clan is fielding six candidates for various elective posts in 2016:

Tomas’ brother Mariano Cristino for mayor and nephew Dean for vice mayor of Quezon town (both unopposed)

Sister-in-law Josefina Manuel-Joson for representative of the first district

Son Edward Thomas and nephew Eduardo Rey Joson for board member of the third and first districts

Nephew EJ Joson for councilor of Cabanatuan City

Brother Eduardo IV, for vice mayor of Cabanatuan as an independent candidate.

Balane has also fielded candidates in different towns and cities of the province.

The Joson clan became a big name in Nueva Ecija politics in the 1959 elections when Eduardo, a World War II guerrilla fighter and former mayor of Quezon town, was elected governor. He was reelected in five succeeding elections and ruled the province until his death in 1990.

He was ousted in the aftermath of the 1986 People Power Revolt.

His sons, Tomas and Eduardo Nonato, succeeded him as governor. Another son, Mariano Cristino, was also elected vice governor while another son, Eduardo III, served as vice mayor of Cabanatuan. Eduardo III was killed in an ambush.

The Joson clan lost the governor’s post in the 2007 elections when then Rep. Aurelio Umali of the third district defeated Mariano Cristino. Two attempts at a comeback were thwarted when Umali defeated then Vice Gov. Edward Thomas Joson in 2010 and former Rep. Josefina Manuel-Joson in  2013.

Umali, who is serving his last term as governor, has fielded his wife Czarina, the incumbent representative of the third district, to take his place. He is now running for the post being left by his wife.