‘Non-issue,’ says Iloilo governor of family’s political dynasty

Defensor was responding to a report by the Iloilo-based Daily Guardian that detailed how multiple members of his family had held elected office either consecutively or simultaneously.

The Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department, a think tank of the Philippine House of Representatives, defines a political dynasty as “characterized by families with multiple members securing elected positions across different elections.”

Defensor said he had no objection to the report’s description of his family, emphasizing that their performance in public service was what mattered most.

The governor stressed that his family members were qualified to run for office and had been duly elected by voters.

“What is important is that I am qualified if I seek a position, and I don’t shortchange the people who give the money. What is important is that I am doing my mandate,” he told a news conference on Friday, March 7.

He compared having multiple relatives in politics to children following their parents’ professions, whether as doctors, athletes, or other careers.

“That’s how it is. There is a tendency for you to follow. If my father was a basketball player, maybe I am also a basketball player. If my father was also a doctor, maybe I am also one,” he said.

Defensor said the concentration of political power in his family was beyond his control, adding that voters were free to choose other candidates if they wanted change.

The Defensor family, which dominates Iloilo’s 3rd District of Iloilo, is one of the province’s most prominent political dynasties, alongside the Garin family in the 1st District, the Biron family in the 4th District, the Tupas family in the 5th District, and the Gorriceta family in the 2nd District.

The Defensor dynasty

Arthur Defensor Sr., the family’s patriarch, began his political career in 1970 as the first mayor of Mina at age 26.

After stepping away from politics during Martial Law, he returned in 1984 as an Assemblyman and later held key government roles under President Corazon Aquino.

Defensor Sr. served as Iloilo governor from 1992 to 2001 before completing three congressional terms from 2001 to 2010 as the 3rd district representative.

His sons followed in his footsteps. Arthur Jr. succeeded him as 3rd district representative from 2010 to 2019 before becoming governor in 2019. He is now seeking his final term, running unopposed in the 2025 midterm elections.

Lorenz, the younger brother, first entered politics as a provincial board member from 2016 to 2019. After one term, he became 3rd district representative and is also seeking reelection for his final term.

Several other relatives are also in public office.

Jason Gonzales, a former Iloilo City councilor from 2013 to 2015 and Lambunao mayor from 2016 to 2019, was elected as a provincial board member in 2019 and is seeking a final term.

Another nephew, Arvin Losaria, has served as Lambunao’s vice mayor since 2019 and is also seeking reelection.

Reynor Gonzalez, Jason’s father, has been Lambunao’s mayor since 2019 and is also running for a final term. His brother, Cesar, was vice mayor from 2010 to 2019.

Article II, Section 26 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution states that “the state shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasties as defined by law.”

In 2012, the Supreme Court ruled that the constitutional ban on political dynasties is not self-executing, meaning Congress must first pass a law defining and regulating dynasties before the prohibition can be enforced.

To date, no such law has been enacted. – Rappler.com