Generations of Defensors maintain stronghold in Iloilo politics

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Will the Defensor family’s grip on Iloilo politics face a credible challenge, or will their dynasty continue to expand its influence unopposed?

ILOILO CITY, Philippines – The Defensor family’s rise in Iloilo politics began in the town of Mina, where a young Arthur Defensor Sr. took his first steps into public service. At just 26, he became Mina’s first mayor, marking the start of a career defined by political savvy.

When Martial Law cast its shadow over the country, Defensor retreated from local politics and focused on his law practice. But his absence from public life was temporary, and his return would reshape Iloilo province’s political landscape.

In 1984, he made a political comeback by winning a seat as an opposition assemblyman in the Batasang Pambansa, where he served as a strong critic of Ferdinand E. Marcos’ dictatorship.

RALLY. Former Iloilo governor Arthur Defensor Sr. speaks during a rally in Iloilo City in 2022. Sean Rafio/Daily Guardian

Following the 1986 People Power Revolution, the then president Corazon Aquino appointed Defensor Sr. to key national positions, including undersecretary of education, and commissioner of the Presidential Commission on Good Government.

His return to Iloilo politics was inevitable. In 1992, he was elected governor, serving three consecutive terms until 2001. With his term limits reached, he shifted to the legislative branch from 2001 to 2010. During his three consecutive terms in Congress, he held key leadership roles, first as assistant majority leader, then as senior deputy majority leader, and eventually as House majority leader of the 14th Congress.

At that time, it was too early for Defensor Sr. to field his sons – Arthur Jr. and Lorenz – for the gubernatorial seat. Instead, Niel Tupas Sr., fresh from serving as the 5th District representative, assumed the position.

Sons take over

Arthur Jr., the eldest son, entered politics as a provincial board member from 2007 to 2010 before immediately succeeding his father as the representative of the 3rd District. He held the congressional seat for three consecutive terms from 2010 to 2019. 

Like his father, Arthur Jr. had big ambitions – leading Iloilo as governor. After completing his term as a congressman, he ran for governor, and in the midterm elections this May, he remains unopposed.

Meanwhile, Lorenz, no stranger to politics, began his career by serving one term as a provincial board member from 2016 to 2019. This experience paved the way for his entry into higher positions in government. As Arthur Jr. completed his term in Congress, Lorenz assumed the 3rd District seat and is now seeking his final term in the upcoming elections.

Family ties

The 3rd District of Iloilo comprises the towns of Badiangan, Bingawan, Cabatuan, Calinog, Janiuay, Lambunao, Maasin, Mina, and Pototan, where the Defensor family’s influence extends to other relatives. 

Their cousin, Jason Gonzales, began his political career as an Iloilo City councilor from 2013 to 2015, later serving as mayor of Lambunao in 2016 and again in 2019, before being elected as a provincial board member in 2019. He is currently seeking re-election for his final term.

Meanwhile, Reynor Gonzales – Jason’s father and Arthur Sr.’s brother-in-law – has been mayor of Lambunao since 2019 and is also seeking his last term in the upcoming elections. 

Another cousin, Arvin Losaria, was elected vice mayor of Lambunao in 2019 and is seeking re-election this year. 

Prior to Arvin, Caesar Gonzales, another of Jason’s uncles, held the vice mayoral post of Lambunao from 2010 to 2019.

With the upcoming elections, the question remains: will the Defensor family’s grip on Iloilo politics face a credible challenge, or will their dynasty continue to expand its influence unopposed? – Rappler.com

This article is republished with permission from the Iloilo-based Daily Guardian as part of a content-sharing partnership for the 2025 Philippine elections.