Quezon City has most number of political families in NCR

Quezon City has the most number of political families among the 17 Metro Manila local government units.

Out of some 82 political families in Metro Manila, 16 are based in Quezon City.

Some political families have members holding posts in different local governments in Metro Manila. The members of the Estrada family, for example, hold posts in Manila and San Juan. The Sottos are holding posts in Quezon City and in Parañaque City.

Of the 17 Metro Manila mayors-elect, 15 belong to political families.

Of the 17 Metro Manila vice mayors-elect, 11 are from political families.

Of the 32 newly proclaimed district representatives in the National Capital Region, 25 are members of political families.

GMA News Research defines members of political families as those government officials with at least one relative who has been elected and/or appointed to office in the past and/or is currently holding a government post, including barangay officials.

Appointees are included, consistent with the premise that political families draw power and influence. However, a family of presidential appointees, with no member having been elected into public office, is not considered a political family by the study.

Failed candidates and career officials are not included as well.
 

Most clans: QC and Manila

Quezon City has the highest number of political families in the National Capital Region. At least 16 political families are based in the biggest city in Metro Manila, although some of them (Sotto, Yllana, Defensor, Crisologo, Belmonte) have relatives who hold or have held government posts elsewhere.
 

The city of Manila has the second biggest number of political families with at least 14. Mayor-elect Joseph Estrada, a former president, used to be the mayor of San Juan for more than two decades. San Juan's local chief executive is Guia Gomez, with whom Estrada has a son, incoming Senator JV Ejercito Estrada.
 

All major posts

In each of nine Metro Manila cities, members of one political family hold all of, or many of the important posts: mayor, vice mayor, district representative/s.
 

The Gatchalian brothers of Valenzuela City were all proclaimed winners last May 13—Mayor Rexlon, First District Representative Sherwin and Alay Buhay party-list representative Weslie. All are incumbent officials; Sherwin and Rexlon will exchange posts on July 1. 

In Navotas City, brothers Mayor Reynald Tiangco and Lone District Rep. Toby Tiangco got re-elected. 

In Quezon City, the Belmonte family holds three important posts. House Speaker and Fourth District Rep. Feliciano Belmonte and his daughter, Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte, both got re-elected. The elder Belmonte's nephew, Jose Christopher “Kit” Belmonte, ran unopposed for the new Sixth District. 

San Juan City is still the bailiwick of the extended family of former President Joseph Estrada, with the re-election of his former partner, incumbent Mayor Guia Gomez. But the posts of Lone District representative and vice mayor will be occupied by members of the Zamora family. Ronaldo Zamora was elected to his eighth term as congressman while his son Francis secured his second term.

The Binay family not only secured its second national post in the May 2013 elections with the successful senatorial bid of Nancy Binay, but maintained its hold in Makati City following the victories of re-electionists Mayor Jejomar Erwin and Second District Rep. Mar-Len Abigail.

In Pasay City, siblings Mayor Antonino Calixto and Lone District Rep. Imelda Calixto-Rubiano were both re-elected.

Alan Peter Cayetano again joins sister Pia with his Senate win. The family also obtained a seat in the House of Representatives with the victory of incumbent barangay Fort Bonifacio chair Lino Cayetano as Taguig City Second District representative. Incumbent Mayor Lani Cayetano was re-elected to a second term.

In Parañaque City, incumbent First District Rep. Edwin Olivarez was elected mayor while his brother, incumbent 1st District Councilor Eric Olivarez, got his current post in the House. Both are sons of former Mayor Pablo Olivarez.

In Las Piñas City, Mayor Vergel Aguilar and his nephew, Lone District Rep. Mark Villar, were successful in their respective re-election bids. Mark’s mother, former Lone District representative Cynthia Villar, was elected senator. 

Longest ruling 

The Metro Manila-based political families who are currently holding the mayoralty post for the longest time—and are guaranteed another three years in the city hall after winning in the May elections—are the Binays of Makati City, Estradas of San Juan City, Eusebios of Pasig City, Aguilars of Las Piñas City and Tiangcos of Navotas City. 

Among Metro Manila mayors, the longest-ruling political family at the moment is the Binay clan. The Binays hold the top post in Makati City for an uninterrupted 27 years. Vice President Jejomar Binay was appointed officer in charge in 1986 before he was elected mayor in 1988. He held the post for three terms from 1988 to 1998.

His wife Elenita warmed his seat when he was termed out in 1998 until 2001. He returned to the post in 2001 and went on to finish three more terms until 2010.

Binay’s son Jejomar Erwin Jr. inherited his post in 2010 and was elected to a second term last May elections. 

Members of the extended family of former President and Manila Mayor-elect Estrada hold the mayoralty post in San Juan City for 21 straight years, from 1992 to 2013. This does not include Estrada’s stint as mayor for 17 years, from 1969 to 1986. 

The Estradas are guaranteed another three years in the San Juan city hall with the re-election of Mayor Guia Gomez. 

The Eusebio family is also now on its 21st year occupying the mayoralty post in Pasig City. The family regained the post in the May elections.

The Aguilar clan has been holding the mayoralty post in Las Piñas City since 1995 or for 18 straight years. Incumbent Mayor Vergel Aguilar was re-elected in the May elections. 

In Navotas City, the Tiangco brothers together held the mayoralty post for a total of 15 years, from 1998 to 2013. Incumbent Mayor John Reynald Tiangco was re-elected in last month's elections. 
 
 

Among the Metro Manila political families who hold the post of district representatives, the Villar clan has occupied a post for the longest time—26 straight years as Lone District representative of Las Piñas City, from 1987 to 2013. The clan is guaranteed another three years in the Lower House with the reelection of incumbent Rep. Mark Villar.

Mark's maternal grandfather Filemon Aguilar first held the post in 1987 to 1992. Mark's father, Senator Manuel Villar, was elected next—occupying the post for three terms from 1992 to 2001. Mark's mother Cynthia also held the post for three terms, from 2001 to 2010. Mark will be on his second term beginning July 1.

Next to the Villars, the other political families are holding a congressional post for 12 straight years: Biazon for Muntinlupa City Lone District representative, Castelo-Daza for the Second and Fourth Districts in Quezon City, and Lopez for Manila’s Second District.

All families are guaranteed another three years in the House for winning in the May elections.
 

— RSJ/VVP, GMA News