Ex-allies Garin, Napulan bitter rivals for Iloilo town’s mayoral post

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ILOILO, Philippines – They ran as a tandem in 2022, but now reelectionist Miagao Mayor Richard “Oscar” Garin Jr. and Vice Mayor Macario “Doc Mac” Napulan are battling it out for control of city hall.

A vote-rich municipality, Miagao is composed of 119 barangays, the most in any town in the country. In 2022, Miagao had 41,603 registered voters, making every candidate’s ground game crucial.

The fractured alliance of the erstwhile running mates is now in full display in the run-up to the polls. But voters know this election will shape how Miagao confronts its most urgent challenges.

The Tumandok brand

A proud member of the Tumandok of Miagao party, Napulan began his public service as a resident physician of Iloilo Doctors Hospital from 1985 to 1988. Four years later, he entered politics as a municipal councilor in Miagao before becoming a provincial board member of the 1st District of Iloilo, and later as three-term mayor of Miagao from 2013 to 2022. 

His administration as the town’s mayor earned him multiple good governance awards including the Seal of Good Local Governance, Excellence in Local Governance, Seal of Good Education Governance, among others. He was named among the Outstanding Local Chief Executive of the Philippines in the Gawad Parangal in 2018, 2019, and 2021. 

Napulan ran on a joint ticket in 2022 as vice mayor to then–Iloilo 1st District Representative Richard Garin Jr. Their partnership was reportedly brokered by former congressman Richard Garin Sr. and was said to be intended for “only one term.”

The Garins of Iloilo

The Garins are no strangers to political power.

Garin Jr. is a scion of the influential Garin political dynasty of Iloilo. His roots can be traced back to their patriarch Oscar “Oca” Garin Sr., who was former mayor of Guimbal town, Iloilo, and later a multi-term Iloilo 1st District congressman.

From there, political power became a family affair. 

Once known primarily in Iloilo politics, like in the towns of Guimbal and San Joaquin, the Garins have grown into a powerful dynasty whose influence now spans local barangays, municipal towns, and even in the halls of Congress.  (READ: Political Dynasties 2022: Garin patriarch of Iloilo hard act to follow)

In early 2021, Garin Jr. changed his residency to Miagao, a move which paved the way for his alliance with Napulan a year later. 

Garin’s candidacy, however was opposed mainly by a group named “Miagao Patriots,” citing his residency. Despite the flak hurled at Garin, Napulan maintained their affiliation. Their tandem won on a unified ticket.

The fallout

For the 2025 elections, the allies are pitted against each other. Napulan now claimed he was never comfortable with their alliance.

In a campaign sortie video posted online by Napulan himself, he said that he never fully supported Garin Jr.’s candidacy in 2022, and only agreed to their partnership upon the request of Garin Sr.

“Bug-at sang maratyagan ko kag sa pamilya ko na magboto ako sa mayor nga pangayaw,” he said, referring to Garin whom he has recently labeled as a political outsider in Miagao. (It is heavy on me and my family’s heart that I will be voting for a mayor who is an outsider.)

He also publicly admitted he did not vote for Garin Jr. despite being his running mate in 2022. 

“Patawaran niyo ako sa sala ko nga nag-imaw ako ka na, kag patawaron man kamo sa sala ninyo na nagboto man kamo ka na,” he added taking accountability for helping the Garins establish a foothold in Miagao politics. (Forgive me for the mistake of being his ally, and may you also be forgiven for the mistake of voting for him.)

Napulan filed his candidacy for Miagao mayor as a challenger under the national slate of the Liberal Party and local banner of Team Tumandok. Their tagline: “Miagao Bawion Ta!” (Let’s reclaim Miagao).

He said his decision was driven by constituents who were dissatisfied with Garin’s leadership style and the incumbent mayor’s unresolved issue as “pangayaw” or outsider.

In February, during a flag ceremony at the municipal grounds,  Garin Jr. publicly addressed and refuted Napulan’s call to “take back” Miagao from outsiders.

“Wara ko gin-agaw ang Miagao, wara ti dapat nga bawion. Ginsarigan niyo ako mga kasimanwa kag umpisa kang 2022, nakapita ko kaninyo ang progreso kag mejora para sa Miagao,” said Garin. (I did not steal Miagao, there’s nothing that needs to be taken back. You placed your trust in me, and since 2022, I have brought you progress and improvements for Miagao.)

He also dismissed Napulan’s narrative as politically motivated, saying the vice mayor’s decision to run was merely personal politics.

“Ang pagsipak ni Doc Mac pulitika ra nga bahin kang ana desisyon. Apang sa bahin ta, gintaw-an ta ka mayad kag sinsero nga serbisyo ang mga pumuluyo kay nagapati kita nga amo dya ang dapat nga unahon, labaw sa pamulitika,” he added. (Doc Mac’s parting was purely a political decision. But on my part, I have given the people sincere and good service because I believe that this should come first, above politics.)

Garin Jr. is running under Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) and local group Responsableng Gobyerno. 

Meanwhile, former Miagao mayor and retired Philippine National Police director general Gerardo “Gerry” Flores added another twist to the political narrative as he publicly aired his disapproval of both Garin and Napulan, calling their face-off a “political drama.” 

“Temprano ko pa nahibaluan nga ang pagkontrahanay ni Garin kag Napulan sa pagka Mayor sa 2025 midterm election isa lamang ka moro-moro ukon drama lang nanda,” he wrote. (I’ve known for a while that the supposed rivalry between Garin and Napulan for the 2025 midterm election is nothing but a staged drama.)

Flores raised doubt over the sincerity of Napulan’s decision to challenge Garin, pointing out that it was Napulan who helped bring Garin into Miagao politics in the first place.

“Paano ma patihan nga si Napulan sinsiro… kay siya sini ang nag maniubra para mangin Mayor si Richard Garin sa Miag-ao?” Flores said. (How can Napulan be trusted as sincere when he was the one who maneuvered to make Garin the mayor of Miagao?)

Flores criticized both candidates: Garin for his lack of Miagaowanon roots and Napulan for enabling Garin’s entry into Miagao politics, while also alluding to corruption allegations during both terms.

Describing both camps as detrimental to Miagaoawanon’s interests, Flores urged voters to reject both candidates.

“Kita nga mga tumandok Miag-aowanon indi makapatawad sa iya [Napulan]… siya ang nanguna mag bugaw para makasulod si Garin sa Miag-ao,” Flores added. (We, Tumandok Miagaowanons, cannot forgive him [Napulan] because he was the one who actively brokered Garin’s entry into Miagao.)

Despite his criticisms, Flores was later seen in a Facebook post expressing support for Napulan’s candidacy. There were also tarpaulins of him supporting Garin’s candidacy spotted across multiple areas in Miagao.

POLITICAL SHIFT. Tarpaulins of former Miagao mayors, including Gerardo “Gerry” Flores, endorsing Garin’s candidacy were spotted across various areas in Miagao, Iloilo, despite Flores previously criticizing both Napulan and Garin. Photo by Jasmine Kris Caleza.

As the mayoral race heats up, Miagaowanons are demanding more than campaign slogans or emotional appeals. The next mayor, they say, must deliver transparency and efficient solutions to numerous issues in the municipality.  – Rappler.com

Rey Mark Paran is a senior Statistics student at the University of the Philippines Visayas. He is the managing editor of Pagbutlak and an Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship candidate from April-May 2025. 

Jasmine Kris Caleza is a campus journalist from iWrite taking up BA Communication and Media Studies at the University of the Philippines Visayas. She is an Aries Rufo Fellowship candidate from April-May 2025.