Southern Leyte, Biliran 2025 electoral races: Same old, same old

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CEBU, Philippines – From the Yaps and Mercados in Southern Leyte to the Espina political dynasty of Biliran, it is clear that for the locals of these provinces, familiar faces are coming in droves to court their votes.

Data from the Commission on Elections shows that Southern Leyte has around 300,005 registered voters while Biliran has about 124,191 for this year’s polls.

Majority of the clans are fighting against each other for top seats in the provinces. Some of them are running unopposed or against independent candidates who call for “change” and offer themselves as the “people’s alternative.”

Rappler lists down some of the races to follow this campaign season in Southern Leyte and Biliran.

Yaps & Mercados split in Southern Leyte gubernatorial race

Amalia Yap, head matriarch of the Yap political dynasty, has broken away from their alliance with the Mercados of Southern Leyte, and is eyeing the gubernatorial seat.

She will be going up against Damian Mercado, incumbent governor of Southern Leyte, who is seeking reelection. Damian is the brother of Roger Mercado, the former Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Southern Leyte’s 1st District Representative.

While he has already served three terms, his first term was interrupted with a dismissal order against him from the Office of the Ombudsman in 2017 that was later revoked by the Court of Appeals in 2018.

Hence, his first term did not count as a full term. The Local Government Code limits the term of local elective officials to just three years — officials are only allowed three consecutive terms.

Yap is running as an independent while Mercado is running under Lakas–Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas–CMD), which is headed by House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.

Joining them for the gubernatorial race is Leo Oliverio, an independent candidate and pro-Duterte supporter.

“Return 3” in Southern Leyte 1st District

Roger Mercado, head of the Mercado dynasty, is seeking a return as representative of Southern Leyte’s 1st district. He last held the position from 2016 until 2021 when he was appointed by Former President Rodrigo Duterte to be the DPWH secretary.

In 2019, Mercado left Duterte’s PDP-Laban to join Lakas–CMD.

Mercado is going up against returning and independent candidate Oscar Camus and Marisa “Dundeet” Yñiguez Lerias, the daughter of former Governor Rosette Yñiguez Lerias and the granddaughter of the late ex-governor Salvacion Oppus Yñiguez and former House Speaker Nicanor Espina Yñiguez.

Nicanor is known as the “Father of Southern Leyte” for authoring the law that created the province.

Yap vs Tan in Southern Leyte 2nd District

While Amalia Yap is gunning for governor, her son Christopherson “Coco” Yap, the first congressman of the 2nd district of Southern Leyte is seeking reelection.

The 2nd district of Southern Leyte was created on February 1, 2019 through Republic Act No. 11198. The Yap son was elected congressman in 2022 and previously served as Southern Leyte vice governor from 2016 to 2022.

He will be going up against Imelda Tan of the Tan dynasty in the municipality of Sogod in Southern Leyte. Imelda is the former mayor of Sogod and the wife of incumbent Sogod mayor and former Southern Leyte vice governor Sheffered Tan.

Sheffered is the nephew of former Southern Leyte governor Oscar Tan.

Mercado mom steps up in Maasin City

Southern Leyte 1st District Representative Luz Verano Mercado, the wife of ex-DPWH secretary Roger Mercado and mother of incumbent Maasin City Mayor Nacional Mercado, is running for mayor under the banner of Lakas–CMD.

Former Maasin City mayor, lawyer Gerry Dator, is also making a comeback and challenging Mercado for the mayorship. Dator ran in 2016 but lost to Nacional and tried again in 2022 but also lost to Nacional.

Another mayoral candidate joining the race is another former mayor of Maasin City Maloney Samaco, a seasoned politician who is also serving as the incumbent vice-mayor of Maasin City.

Espina dynasty unopposed for Biliran congressman, vice governor

The Espina clan has held power in Biliran for decades. The head patriarch Gerardo Sabinay Espina Sr. was the province’s first congressman having been elected in 1995.

Espina’s son, Gerardo “Gerryboy” Jimenez Espina Jr. followed after his footsteps as the incumbent representative of Biliran’s lone district. He is also a former governor of Biliran and a mayor of Naval town.

Gerryboy is seeking reelection unopposed and carrying the banner of Lakas–CMD. His sister, Biliran Provincial Board Member Roselyn Espina-Paras, is running for vice governor also unopposed and under Lakas–CMD

Their sibling, former Biliran governor and ex-Biliran lone district representative Rogelio Espina is seeking to replace his son, incumbent governor Gerard Roger Espina.

Independent candidates Edgar Ambe and Jolan Bohol are challenging Rogelio for the gubernatorial seat of Biliran.

Espina in Naval

Naval Mayor Gretchen Espina is seeking reelection in her hometown, the capital of the Biliran province.

Gretchen is the daughter of Rogelio Espina and is known for her singing career in the Philippine Idol franchise, especially since she won the first Pinoy Idol competition in 2008. She ran for mayor of Naval and won in 2022.

Gretchen Espina is running with Archie Parilla who is vying for the vice-mayoral seat.

Gretchen will be seeing competition from independent candidates Lyn Borrinaga and Pablito Cuizon for the mayoral position while Parilla will be going up against independent candidate Erneng Terado. – Rappler.com

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