Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental local races feature familiar rematches

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CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – In Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro City, smaller political families battle for control every election season.

The 2025 polls are no exception, with rematches occurring between political rivals in several key posts. But this year, budding dynasties are also seeking to expand their reach as members of the next generation enter the political arena.

Despite similar matchups in the midterms, local races in the province are heating up with opponents promising a return of “good governance” and equal leadership.

Rappler lists some of the Misamis Oriental races to watch out for in the upcoming elections:

A gubernatorial rematch

A familiar matchup is taking place in the race for the Misamis Oriental capitol’s top post as former 2nd District congresswoman Juliette Uy challenges Peter Unabia Sr.’s reelection bid.

Previously Gingoog City vice mayor, Unabia was elected governor in the 2022 elections with a strong win against Uy and then-Cagayan de Oro City mayor Oscar Moreno, a former governor of the province.

However, Unabia’s first term did not come without controversy as he faced issues surrounding the hiring of 737 temporary workers, as well as the provincial government’s non-remittance of around P48 million in taxes.

On Monday, April 28, the Commission on Elections’ Task Force on Safeguarding Against Fear and Exclusion in Elections also filed a disqualification petition against Unabia over his “sexist” remarks toward nurses. (READ: Comelec orders Misamis Oriental governor to explain hate speech, sexist joke)

Unabia said in a statement that he has yet to receive a copy of the petition, but assured his supporters he will continue to campaign for “honest leadership.”

The incumbent governor was also criticized for his comments stereotyping people from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Uy also accused her rival of favoring his allies in the distribution of social aid and vowed to put an end to the practice.

The third candidate for Misamis Oriental governor is an El Salvador-based minister named Merlito Simacon.

Will the Unabias grow their dynasty?

The reelectionist governor is not the only Unabia seeking a post in this year’s elections.

Peter’s 36-year-old son Christian is seeking a third and final term as Misamis Oriental’s 1st District representative. Christian was one of the signatories to the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte.

Christian’s younger brother, 34-year-old Joshua Unabia, is also hoping to make his political debut with his mayoral bid in the province’s second-largest town, Balingasag. Joshua is running against incumbent Mayor Alexis Quina, who won with a razor-thin margin of just 1,004 votes in 2022.

With Peter’s third son Balingoan Mayor Aaron Unabia reaching his term limit, Aaron’s wife Candy is looking to extend the family’s control over the town.

New player in vice gubernatorial race

After securing another term in 2022 by defeating his brother Joey, Jeremy “Jigjag” Pelaez now faces a foe outside of the family. This time, his reelection bid is being challenged by Frederick Khu, who is serving his last term as a provincial board member of Misamis Oriental’s 1st district.

Khu chairs the provincial board’s agriculture committee, and is running under Uy’s Team Unity slate. The incumbent vice governor, meanwhile, is Unabia’s running mate under Team PaDayon Paglaum.

Rey Tata Cagampang, a chaplain from Laguindingan, is also running for vice governor.

The children of Khu and Pelaez are also following in their father’s footsteps. Erik’s son, Christian Eric, is seeking a 1st district seat in the provincial board. Meanwhile, Jigjag’s eldest daughter Jelizza is running for town councilor in Medina.

3-way race for Cagayan de Oro’s mayorship

In his third bid for Cagayan de Oro City’s mayorship, former Phividec administrator Pompee La Viña faces two familiar rivals. The first one is former mayor Oscar Moreno, who defeated La Viña in 2019 with over 153,000 votes. The other contender, incumbent Mayor Rolando “Klarex” Uy, spoiled La Viña’s second bid in 2022 by a slimmer margin.

In his third electoral run, La Viña is still running on an anti-corruption platform with promises to establish a city university, improve delivery of social services by holding contractors accountable, as well as transform Cagayan de Oro into a pedestrian-friendly community.

Meanwhile, Moreno vows to bring good governance back to Cagayan de Oro by digitalizing and streamlining government transactions, improving city infrastructure, and addressing the city’s waste management issues.

The platforms of the two aim to address dissatisfaction with Uy’s first term, which faced controversies surrounding the local water district. Waste management and traffic are also some of the pain points of the incumbent mayor’s administration.

Moreno and Uy were once political allies. Uy’s son, Raineir Joaquin “Kikang” Uy, even served as Moreno’s vice mayor from 2019 to 2022. However, the two severed ties in 2022 for unknown reasons. (READ: Once bitter rivals, Morenos, Emanos join forces in bid to win key Cagayan de Oro posts)

In February, Moreno’s vice mayoral aspirant and former city councilor Zaldy Ocon filed a disqualification case against the father-son duo over the suspicious surge of voter registration transfers to their bailiwick, Barangay Carmen. The mayor’s camp dismissed this as a diversionary tactic.

A rematch in Cagayan de Oro’s 1st district

Cagayan de Oro’s 1st District Representative Lordan Suan once again faces his rival Kikang Uy in his bid for a second term.

While Kikang first ran for office in 2010, Suan began his political career much later in 2016. The 40-year-old congressman entered politics as 1st district city councilor.

Suan won his first matchup against Kikang in 2022 with over 76,000 votes.

Aside from the petition filed by Ocon, Kikang also faced another disqualification case over Barangay Carmen’s surge of registered voters. The younger Uy also chairs Barangay Carmen, Cagayan de Oro’s most populous village. But the petitioners have since dropped their petition, citing need for further investigation. – Rappler.com

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