Clans, comebacks, and upstarts clash in Negros Occidental city races

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NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – Political dynasties, old grudges, and unexpected challengers are converging in a bruising set of mayoral races across eight of Negros Occidental’s 12 component cities ahead of the May 12 elections.

From Kabankalan to Silay, city halls are up for grabs, with a mix of comeback bids, family rivalries, and grassroots challenges shaping what locals say is the province’s most competitive local race in years.

Kabankalan

In Kabankalan, considered the fiercest battleground in southern Negros Occidental, reelectionist Mayor Benjie Miranda – the first indigenous leader elected to the post – faces two formidable opponents: former governor Isidro Zayco, 78, and ex-congressman Genaro “Lim-ao” Alvarez Jr., 82. Both are titans of political families that dominated Kabankalan for over 30 years until Miranda’s 2022 upset victory.

Kabankalan mayoral candidates Benjie Miranda, Isidro Zayco, and Genaro Alvarez Jr.

Miranda, a former soldier and village chief, defeated Zayco’s brother Pedro by a margin of just 278 votes in the 2022 elections, ending the Zayco dynasty. Now, the elder Zayco is attempting a comeback. 

Meanwhile, Alvarez, long seen as avoiding direct confrontation with the Zaycos, has entered the race – drawing attention for using a family-owned helicopter on the campaign trail while Miranda rides on horseback.

Four other candidates – John Cordero, Eliezer Duron Jr., Gigi Manguray, and Dr. Qcquiao – are also in the running. 

The city has 110,588 registered voters, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Himamaylan

In nearby Himamaylan, a city with 77,802 voters, Mayor Raymund Tongson seeks his final term under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), facing businessman and independent candidate Vicente Genova.

Tongson’s reelection bid became contentious after his split with Vice Mayor Justin Silos Gatuslao, a member of the powerful Gatuslao clan in the 5th District.

The alliance, formed in 2016, collapsed in mid-2024.

Gatuslao stayed on as vice mayor, but his family is now reportedly backing Genova, once a close friend of Tongson.

Himamaylan mayoral candidates Raymund Tongson and Vicente Genova

Bago

The mayoral contest in Bago, a city with 103,138 voters, pits relatives – Vice Mayor Ramon “Monet” Torres and Councilor Marina “Mayette” Javellana-Yao – against each other. 

Torres, a former mayor, is backed by Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, while Yao is supported by Ferrer’s congressional rival, former Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development assistant secretary Lea Delfinado.

The Torres-Yao race is seen as a messy family affair, with both contenders related by blood. Many of their relatives can only wish them both “good luck” on May 12.

Bago mayoral candidates Ramon Torres and Marina Javellana-Yao

La Carlota

In La Carlota City, reelectionist Mayor Rex Jalando-on, a physician, is being challenged by church worker and animal rights advocate Jose Luis “Joe-Lu” Jalandoni. The city has 45,451 voters.

Jalandoni is no ordinary challenger to Jalando-on, with backing from prominent La Carlota families, many of them sugar barons.

La Carlota mayoral candidates Rex Jalando-on and Jose Luis Jalandoni

The contest has been dubbed a battle of sugar elites in this central Negros Occidental city.

Jalando-on, a sugar planter himself, is supported by outgoing 4th District Representative Juliet Marie Ferrer, granddaughter of the late ambassador Roberto Salas Benedicto and wife of vice governor-turned-congressional bet Jeffrey Ferrer.

Sipalay

Down south in Sipalay City, Mayor Gina Lizares – a member of the influential Montilla clan – faces an unlikely challenger in Bebsie Villegas, a farmer and leader of Hugpong Negrosanon, a grassroots alliance. The city has 48,864 registered voters.

Villegas’ decision to challenge Lizares came out of the blue, with their contest described locally as “lupa at langit” (earth and heaven).

Sipalay mayoral candidates Gina Lizares and Bebsie Villegas

Still, Villegas hopes to end the Montilla-Lizares family’s grip on Sipalay politics, which dates back to 1987.

Lizares succeeded her brother, Oscar Montilla, as mayor. Montilla had earlier taken over from their mother, Soledad, who assumed office after the 1986 People Power revolt.

Oscar has served as Lizares’ vice mayor since 2016.

Silay

In the northern part of the province, Silay City is witnessing a rematch between Mayor Joedith Gallego, a former security guard and self-styled “man of the masses,” and former mayor Mark Golez, a sugar planter. 

Gallego, who made history in 2022 as the first non-landed mayor of Silay, is under PFP, while Golez is with House Speaker Martin Romualdez’s Lakas-CMD. Silay has 90,213 voters.

Silay mayoral candidates Joedith Gallego and Mark Golez

Gallego, backed by ordinary Silaynons, is up against Golez, who enjoys strong support from the powerful Benitez clan of the 3rd District, including Bacolod Mayor Albee Benitez.

Golez is also endorsed by Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson.

Gallego has openly opposed the provincial government’s proposed P1.2-billion bulk water project, which would tap the Imbang River in Silay and the Malogo River in E.B. Magalona.

Talisay

In Talisay, lawyer Rowena Lopez-Lizares aims to succeed her husband, outgoing Mayor Neil Lizares, with a promise of continuity. 

Her rival, Samuel Siote, a former vice mayor and independent councilor, once belonged to the same political camp but has since broken away. Voters total 68,472 in Talisay.

Lopez-Lizares is seeking to make history as Talisay’s first woman mayor.

Her rival, Siote, is out for a comeback after a crushing defeat in the 2022 vice mayoral race.

The race is being called a “battle of titans” – Lopez-Lizares hails from a prominent real estate family, while Siote is a well-known infrastructure contractor in the province.

Talisay mayor candidates Samuel Siote and Rowena Lopez-Lizares

Escalante 

Meanwhile, in Escalante City, Mayor Melecio Yap is seeking reelection against two independent and little-known challengers – Abloy Gimang and Jemo Escares.

Many see the race as a walk in the park for the mayor, and his opponents as non-serious threats to his reelection bid. However, one of his challengers, Escares, has vowed to block his reelection.

No contests

There will be no mayoral contests in San Carlos, Sagay, Cadiz, and Victorias, where mayors Renato Gustilo, Leo Rafael Cueva, and Salvador Escalante Jr., and candidate Abelardo Bantug are all running unopposed.

The elections will test whether voter fatigue with dynasties and elite politics can be turned into victories by underdog challengers – or if political clans will cement their hold for another term in the cities of Negros Occidental. – Rappler.com