Calamba stomps Chipecos’ comeback bid, reelects Ross Rizal and Cha Hernandez

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The Chipecos held the top posts in the locality for nearly two decades, but got wiped out of the elective government in the city in 2022

MANILA, Philippines – Calamba Mayor Ross Rizal and Calamba Congresswoman Cha Hernandez both secured a second term, spoiling the comeback bid of the city’s once-ruling Chipeco dynasty in the 2025 polls.

Both Rizal and Hernandez defeated members of the Chipeco clan in 2022, and did it again in the latest election cycle.

Based on the partial, unofficial results from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday, May 12, Rizal led with 149,668 votes over rival Timmy Chipeco’s 49,208. A total of 64.64% of election results have been transmitted.

In the congressional race, Representative Hernandez pulled ahead with 128,458 votes, while patriarch Jun Chipeco placed third with 29,916.

Rizal’s running mate, Vice Mayor Totie Lazaro, also won reelection against his opponent, former television host Anjo Yllana.

Timmy was the longtime mayor of the city, but was constitutionally barred from seeking a fourth consecutive term in 2022. The family fielded then-councilor Joey Chipeco instead, but lost to Rizal.

Timmy instead ran for congressman in 2022, hoping to succeed his term-limited father Jun Chipeco, but he also lost to Hernandez.

In their pitch during the campaign season, the Chipecos promised to be fair in the delivery of social services, accusing the incumbent city government of being selective.

Rizal’s slate, meanwhile, appealed to constituents not to bring back the Chipecos in power, saying they were able to “show and accomplish what needed to be done, unlike the other side, where 18 years have passed and nothing was felt.”

The Chipeco dynasty has long ruled the locality, overseeing city hall from 2004 to 2022. It has also held the congressional seat of which Calamba is a part of (either the 2nd District or when the city became its own separate district) from 1995 to 2022. At one point, there was also a Chipeco in the city council, on top of the mayoral and congressional posts. – Rappler.com