Clans rule: 76 percent of district reps in 14th Congress from dynasties

The opening of the 14th House of Representatives will welcome the continued reign and influence of political families, but now with fewer numbers in their ranks than before.

A study conducted by GMA News Research showed that at least 76 percent of the incoming legislative districts representatives are members of political families*, compared to their 83-percent command in the past Congress.

Forty political families have stepped out of the picture, and retired from the halls of the Batasang Pambansa--at least for now. This may account partly for the decrease in the number of clans among the district representatives.

UP Manila political science professor Bobby Tuazon believes the decline does not signal the end of the long-kept tradition of astute politicians that endures every election year.

“Just because one dynasty has fallen out of power means that their number has dropped. It looked like the same. Other political clans simply take over," says Tuazon, a director of Center for People Empowerment in Governance (Cenpeg).

He notes that the Espinosas of Masbate, for instance, were replaced by the Khos, now a political family after winning local posts in the May elections.

The relatives of 18 outgoing congressmen, mostly end-termers, lost their bid to secure their slot in the new Congress. (Table 1) Such well-entrenched political families as the Yaphas of Cebu, the Velosos of Leyte, the Espinosas of Masbate and the Paras clan of Negros Oriental will not be represented in Congress for the next three years.

But, Tuazon says, while a family member may have lost in the congressional race, his or her relatives may have won in other local posts they sought.

Such is the case of the dominant Espina clan of Biliran—72-year-old patriarch Gerardo Sr. lost to neophyte 32-year-old Glenn Chong in the race for the lone congressional seat. However, four family members who ran for different positions fared better.

A few others, such as the Abads of Batanes and the Dadivas clan of Capiz, did not field any replacement. The Abads held the lone congressional post in Batanes for more than two decades in total beginning 1962.

Outgoing Rep. Henedina Abad, who finished a term, chose not to seek reelection.

“They said they want to retire. Maybe they wanted a break from politics. They want the new breed of politicians to take over," a congressional staff of Abad says. The Abads will still be active in the province “but outside of the political sphere"—through NGOs, she adds. Dina and her husband, former congressman and education secretary Florencio Abad, have served many local NGOs.

“Mas madami sila magagawa kung wala sila sa gobyerno," the staff says. She hints at the Abads’ frustration over the slow or non-release of funds to the province since the family became part of the opposition bloc in 2005.

Table 1. Outgoing congressmen whose relatives lost (18)
Legislative District	13th Congress Representative/Term	Candidated Fielded	Relationship	14th Congress Representative
Bukidnon, 1st Dist.	J.R. Nereus O. Acosta/3rd	Ma. Lourdes O. Acosta	Sister	Candido Pancrudo Jr., former board member
Cebu, 2nd Dist.	Simeon L. Kintanar/3rd	Carmiano Kintanar	Cousin	Pablo Garcia, former congressman, governor, vice governor
Cebu, 3rd Dist.	Antonio P. Yapha Jr./3rd	Estrella Yapha	Wife	Pablo John Garcia
Davao City, 3rd Dist.	Ruy Elias C. Lopez/3rd	Rene Elias C. Lopez	Brother	Isidro Ungab, city councilor
Eastern Samar, Lone Dist.	Marcelino C. Libanan/3rd	Elda Ellado Libanan	Wife	Teodolo Coquilla, former Oras mayor
Ilocos Sur, 1st Dist.	Salacnib F. Baterina/3rd	Bertrand A. Baterina	Nephew	Ronald Singson, outgoing provincial board member
Leyte, 3rd Dist.	Eduardo K. Veloso/3rd	Marie Therese U. Veloso	Wife	Andres Dalde Salvacion Jr., retired Customs official
Manila, 4th Dist.	Rodolfo C. Bacani/3rd	Maria Aurora C. Bacani	Wife	Maria Theresa Bonoan-David, outgoing councilor
Manila, 5th Dist.	Joey D. Hizon/3rd	Estrelita S. Hizon	Wife	Amado Bagatsing, former congressman
Masbate, 2nd Dist.	Emilio R. Espinosa Jr./3rd	Ma. Lourdes Lilia K. Espinosa	Niece	Antonio Kho, outgoing governor
Misamis Oriental, 2nd Dist.	Augusto H. Baculio/3rd	Augustus Rex Reyes Baculio	Son	Yevgeny Vicente Emano, Tagoloan mayor
Negros Oriental, 1st Dist.	Jacinto V. Paras/3rd	Olivia P. Paras	Wife	Jocelyn Limkaichong, La Libertad mayor
Northern Samar, 2nd Dist.	Romualdo T. Vicencio/3rd (deceased)	Caesar Opiña Vicencio	Son	Emil L. Ong, former presidential assistant
Pampanga, 1st Dist.	Francis L. Nepomuceno/3rd	Gerard De Leon Nepomuceno	Son	Carmelo Lazatin, AngelesCity mayor
Pangasinan, 3rd Dist.	Generoso DC. Tulagan/3rd	Generoso Domingo Tulagan Jr.	Son	Ma. Rachel Arenas, DTI consultant, daughter of Baby Arenas
Biliran, Lone District	Gerardo Espina Jr./1st	Gerardo Espina Sr.	Father	Glenn Ang Chong, lawyer
Surigao del Sur, 2nd District	Peter Paul Jed Falcon/1st	Jesnar Falcon	Father	Florencio C. Garay, mayor of Bislig
Caloocan, 2nd District	Luis Asistio/1st	Albert Muñoz	Nephew	Mary Mitzi Cajayon, councilor

New terms, old hands

A little more than half of the incoming district representatives will be familiar faces : 111 are reelectionists (51 percent) while 108 (49 percent) are new representatives.
Yet some of the “new" congressmen are not so new after all -- 26 of them may be more aptly called “returnees," having served as congressmen before.

One of them is Salvador Escudero III, who takes over the post in the First District of Sorsogon that son Francis “inherited" from him in 1998. The older Escudero shunned the public office for nine years, until now that son Chiz finished his third and last term.

“Hindi naman ako dapat kumandidato. Nag-file ako ng candidacy 20 minutes before midnight ng deadline. Plano ko talaga sana kumampanya kay Chiz," the senior Escudero says. But he was later persuaded by his constituents to run.

A number of incoming congressmen may be newcomers in the Batasan, but are from families who are old hands in politics including the two Garcias of Cebu, a Binay, Bagatsing, Padilla, Lazatin and Yap. (Table 2)

Table 2. New representatives who are members of political families (75)
Legislative District	Representative	Government Post/s Held Before	Predecessor/Term	Relation
Abra, Lone District	Cecilia S. Luna (not yet proclaimed)	Mayor of Lagayan, Abra	Luis Bersamin Jr.
Agusan Del Norte, 2nd District	Edelmiro A. Amante	Congressman	Ma. Angelica Rosedell Amante/1st	Child
Albay, 2nd District	Al Francis Bichara	Ambassador, governor	Carlos Imperial/2nd
Antipolo City, 1st District	Roberto V. Puno		Ronaldo Puno/1st	Sibling
Bataan, 1st District	Herminia B. Roman		Antonino Roman/3rd	Spouse
Batangas, 4th District	Mark Leandro Mendoza		Oscar Gozos/2nd
Bohol, 3rd District	Adam Relson L. Jala		Eladio Jala/3rd	Parent
Bukidnon, 1st District	Candido P. Pancrudo Jr.		Nereus Acosta/3rd
Bukidnon, 3rd District	Jose Ma. F. Zubiri III		Juan Miguel Zubiri/3rd	Sibling
Bulacan, 1st District	Maria Victoria R. Sy-Alvarado	Vice mayor, Hagonoy, Bulacan	Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado/3rd	Spouse
Cagayan, 1st District	Salvacion S. Ponce Enrile		Juan Ponce Enrile Jr./3rd	Spouse
Camarines Norte, Lone District	Liwayway Vinzons Chato	BIR Commissioner	Renato J. Unico, Jr./2
Camarines Sur, 1st District	Diosdado Ignacio Maria M. Arroyo		Rolando Andaya
Camiguin, Lone District	Pedro P. Romualdo	Governor, congressman	Jurdin Jesus Romualdo/3rd	Child
Cavite, 2nd District	Elpidio F. Barzaga Jr.	Dasmariñas mayor	Gilbert Remulla/2nd
Cebu, 2nd District	Pablo Garcia	Congressman, governor, vice governor	Simeon Kintanar/3rd
Cebu, 3rd District	Pablo John Garcia		Antonio Yapha Jr./3rd
Compostela Valley, 2nd District	Rommel C. Amatong		Prospero Amatong/3rd	Parent
Davao del Norte, 2nd District	Antonio Lagdameo		Antonio Floirendo Jr./3rd	Uncle
Davao Del Sur, 1st District	Marc Douglas C. Cagas IV	Congressional staff	Douglas Cagas/3rd	Parent
Davao Del Sur, 2nd District	Franklin P. Bautista	Malita mayor	Claude Bautista/2nd	Sibling
Davao Oriental, 1st District	Nelson L. Dayanghirang	Provincial board member	Corazon Malanyaon/2nd
Davao Oriental, 2nd District	Thelma Z. Almario	Vice governor, congressman, mayor	Mayo Almario/3rd	Child
Guimaras, Lone District	Joaquin Carlos A. Nava	Governor, congressman	Edgar Espinosa/2nd
Ilocos Norte, 2nd District	Ferdinand R. Marcos	Governor, congressman	Imee Marcos/3rd	Sibling
Ilocos Sur, 1st District	Ronald V. Singson	Provincial board member	Salacnib Baterina/3rd
Iloilo, 5th District	Niel C. Tupas Jr.	Provincial board member	Rolex Suplico/3rd	Cousin
La Union, 1st District	Victor Francisco C. Ortega	Governor	Manuel Ortega/3rd	Sibling
La Union, 2nd District	Thomas Dumpit Jr.		Tomas Dumpit/3rd	Parent
Laguna, 4th District	Edgar S. San Luis		Benjamin Agarao Jr./1st
Lanao del Sur, 2nd District	Pangalian Balindong (not yet proclaimed)	Congressman	Benasing Macarambon Jr./3rd
Leyte, 1st District	Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez		Remedios Petilla/1st
Makati City, 2nd District	Abigail Mar-len S. Binay		Agapito Aquino/3rd
Malabon-Navotas, Lone District	Alvin S. Sandoval		Federico Sandoval II/3rd	Sibling
Mandaluyong City, Lone District	Neptali M. Gonzales II	Mayor, congressman	Benjamin Abalos Jr./1st
Manila, 3rd District	Maria Zenaida B. Angping		Miles Roces/1st
Manila, 5th District	Amado S. Bagatsing	Congressman	Joey Hizon/3rd
Marinduque, Lone District	Carmencita O. Reyes	Governor, congressman	Edmundo Reyes Jr./3rd	Child
Masbate, 2nd District	Antonio T. Kho	Governor	Emilio Espinosa Jr./3rd
Misamis Occidental, 1st District	Marina P. Clarete	Barangay captain	Ernesto Clarete/2nd	Spouse
Misamis Oriental, 2nd District	Yevgeny Vicente B. Emano	Tagoloan mayor	Augusto Baculio/3rd
Negros Occidental, 1st District	Julio A. Ledesma IV	Congressman	Tranquilino Carmona/1st
Negros Occidental, 6th District	Genaro M. Alvarez Jr.	Congressman, provincial board member	Genaro Rafael Alvarez III/1st	Child
Negros Oriental, 1st District	Jocelyn S. Limkaichong	Mayor of La Libertad, Negros Oriental (2004-07)	Jacinto V. Paras/3rd
Negros Oriental, 2nd District	George P. Arnaiz	Governor	Emilio Macias II/3rd
Negros Oriental, 3rd District	Pryde Henry Teves	Provincial board member	Herminio Teves/3rd	Grandparent
North Cotabato, 2nd District	Bernardo F. Piñol Jr.	Provincial administrator, councilor	Gregorio Ipong/3rd
Northern Samar, 1st District	Paul R. Daza		Harlin Abayon/3rd
Northern Samar, 2nd District	Emil Ong	Presidential assistant	Romualdo Vicencio
Nueva Ecija, 1st District	Edwardo Nonato N. Joson	Governor, congressman	Josefina Joson/3rd	Sister-in-law
Nueva Ecija, 2nd District	Joseph Gilbert F. Violago		Eleuterio Violago/2nd	Parent
Nueva Ecija, 3rd District	Czarina D. Umali		Aurelio Umali/2nd	Spouse
Nueva Vizcaya, Lone District	Carlos M. Padilla	Congressman, assemblyman, mayor	Rodolfo Agbayani/1st
Pampanga, 1st District	Carmelo F. Lazatin	Angeles City mayor	Francis Nepomuceno/3rd
Pangasinan, 2nd District	Victor Aguedo E. Agbayani	Governor	Amado Espino Jr./2nd
Pasig City, Lone District	Roman T. Romulo		Robert Jaworski Jr./1st
Pateros-Taguig,   1st Councilor District)	Ma. Laarni L. Cayetano		Alan Peter Cayetano/3rd	Spouse
Quezon, 1st District	Wilfrido Mark M. Enverga Jr.		Rafael Nantes/3rd
Rizal, 2nd District	Adelina S. Rodriguez		Isidro Rodriguez Jr./3rd	Sibling
Romblon, Lone District	Eleandro Jesus F. Madrona	Governor and congressman	Eduardo Firmalo/1st
Samar, 2nd District	Sharee Ann Tee Tan		Catalino Figueroa/1st
Shariff Kabunsuan, Lone District	Didagen P. Dilangalen	Congressman	New
Siquijor, Lone District	Orlando Fua Sr.	Governor, congressman	Orlando Fua Jr./3rd	Child
Sorsogon, 1st District	Salvador H. Escudero III	Congressman	Francis Escudero/3rd	Child
Sultan Kudarat, Lone District	Datu Pakung Mangudadatu	Governor	Suharto Mangudadatu/1st	Parent
Surigao Del Sur, 1st District	Philip A. Pichay		Prospero Pichay/3rd	Sibling
Tarlac, 1st District	Monica Louise P. Teodoro		Gilberto Teodoro Jr./3rd	Spouse
Tarlac, 2nd District	Jose V. Yap	Governor, congressman, mayor	Benigno Simeon Aquino III/3rd
Tarlac, 3rd District	Jeci A. Lapus		Jesli Lapus	Sibling
Valenzuela City 2nd District	Magtanggol Gunigundo I	Congressman	Antonio Serapio/1st
Valenzuela City, 1st District	Rexlon T. Gatchalian		Jose Emmanuel Carlos/1st
Zamboanga City 1st District	Ma. Isabelle Climaco	Zamboanga City vice mayor	New
Zamboanga del Norte, 2nd District	Rosendo Labadlabad		Roseller Barinaga/3rd
Zamboanga Sibugay, 2nd District	Dulce Ann K. Hofer	Mayor of Titay, Zamboanga Sibugay	new

There are at least nine new political families in the new Lower House (Table 3). While most of these surnames are considered old players--such as the Khos of Masbate, Tans of Samar and Umalis of Nueva Ecija--it is only in this year’s elections that more than one member of the family are serving in elective posts.

For instance, the Gatchalians of Valenzuela City fielded four candidates in the elections last May. Two of them won: reelectionist Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian and his brother Rexlon, who was elected congressman of the First District. This made the Gatchalians--whose businesses include real estate, casino hotel operations, airlines, leisure resorts and plastic products--an instant political family.

Congressman-elect Rexlon Gatchalian said he cannot say that he and his brothers planned to run all at the same time. He said they should be treated as individuals and not as siblings.

“Dynasties should not be treated as a collective but as individuals. Voters are already mature and smart. The voters have spoken that they believe in Rex and Sherwin (Gatchalian)," said Gatchalian, who manages the family-owned Waterfront hotels.

Table 3. New political families in the 14th House of Representatives (9)
Legislative District	Representative	Notes
Bukidnon, 1st District	Candido P. Pancrudo Jr.	Brother Ben P. Pancrudo won as board member of Bukidnon
Cavite, 2nd District	Elpidio F. Barzaga Jr.	Wife Jennifer replaced him as Dasmariñas mayor
Manila, 3rd District	Maria Zenaida B. Angping	Wife of former congressman Harry Angping
Masbate, 2nd District	Antonio T. Kho	Former Masbate governor; wife Dr. Elisa Olga Kho is new governor
Nueva Ecija, 3rd District	Czarina D. Umali	Wife of Gov. Aurelio Umali
Samar, 2nd District	Sharee Ann Tee Tan	Daughter of Gov. Milagrosa Tan
Surigao Del Sur, 1st District	Philip A. Pichay	Brother of defeated senatorial candidate and former congressman Prospero Pichay
Valenzuela City, 1st District	Rexlon T. Gatchalian	Brother of ValenzuelaCity Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian
Batangas, 4th District	Mark Leandro Mendoza	Son of DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza

All in the family

Thirty-three outgoing congressmen ensured the continuity of their political reign by passing on their seats to relatives.

Nine passed on their seats to siblings; eight to their parents; seven to their spouses; and five others to their children. There were also outgoing congressmen who are replaced by a nephew, a cousin, a grandchild and a brother-in-law.

At least two representatives “returned" their seats to their fathers: Genaro Rafael Alvarez III and Ma. Angelica Rosedell Amante, apparent “seatwarmers", retire as their fathers reclaim the post they left, temporarily, when they reached the three-term limit in the 12th Congress.

Non-clan

The Lower House may indeed be the bastion of the pedigreed political name, but a handful of candidates -- without any political lineage -- were able to court enough votes to win a slot in Congress. (Table 4)

Table 4. New representatives who are not members of any political family (32)
Legislative District	Representative	Government Post Held
Agusan Del Norte, 1st District	Jose S. Aquino II	MEDCO assistant secretary
Albay, 3rd District	Reno G. Lim
Antipolo City, 2nd District	Angelito C. Gatbalayan	Antipolo City mayor
Batanes, Lone District	Carlo Oliver D. Diasnes	(doctor)
Biliran, Lone District	Glenn Ang Chong	(lawyer)
Cagayan De Oro City, Lone District	Rolando A. Uy	Brgy Chairperson of Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City
Cagayan De Oro City, 2nd District	Rufus B. Rodriguez	Immigration commissioner
Caloocan, 2nd District	Mary Mitzi L. Cajayon	councilor of CaloocanCity (2004-07)
Capiz, 1st District	Antonio A. Del Rosario	Mayor of RoxasCity, Capiz (1998-07)
Davao City, 3rd District	Isidro T. Ungab	Councilor of DavaoCity (2001-04)
Isabela, 4th District	Giorgidi B. Aggabao
Kalinga, Lone District	Manuel S. Agyao	DPWH-CAR assistant secretary
Laguna, 3rd District	Maria Evita R. Arago	councilor of San PabloCity, Laguna (2004-07)
Leyte, 3rd District	Andres Dalde Salvacion Jr.	Subic Customs collector
Manila, 1st District	Benjamin D. Asilo	councilor of Manila (2001-07)
Manila, 4th District	Ma. Theresa B. Bonoan-David	councilor of Manila (1998-07)
Marikina City, 1st District	Marcelino R. Teodoro	councilor of Marikina
Negros Occidental, 4th District	Jeffrey P. Ferrer	Mayor of La CarlotaCity (2004-07)
Pampanga, 3rd District	Aurelio Gonzales Jr.	Provincial board member
Pangasinan, 3rd District	Ma. Rachel Jimenez Arenas	head of public affairs dept. of Office of the Vice President (2001-03)
Pasay City, Lone District	Jose Antonio F. Roxas	councilor of PasayCity (1998-07)
Taguig, 2nd District (2nd Councilor District)	Henry M. Dueñas Jr.	councilor of Taguig (2001-07)
San Jose Del Monte City, Lone District	Arturo B. Robes	Vice mayor of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan
Sultan Kudarat, 2nd District	Arnulfo F. Go	councilor of Lebak, Sultan Kudarat (1998-07)
Sulu, 1st District	Yusop H. Jikiri	governor of Sulu
Surigao Del Sur, 2nd District	Florencio C. Garay	Mayor of Bislig, Surigao del Sur
Zamboanga Del Sur, 1st District	Victor J. Yu	(contractor/engineer)
Eastern Samar, Lone District	Teodulo M. Coquilla	mayor of Oras, Eastern Samar (1998-99)
Surigao del Norte, 2nd District	Guillermo A. Romarate Jr.	mayor of Tubod, Surigao del Norte (2001-07)
Cebu, 4th District	Benhur Salimbangon (not yet proclaimed)	Former provincial board member
Laguna, 1st District	Danilo Fernandez (not yet proclaimed)	Former vice governor
Lanao del Norte, 1st District	Vicente F. Belmonte Jr. (not yet proclaimed)	Iligan City councilor

Twenty-four percent of the House of Representatives do not, as yet, belong to any political family: 32 are first-termers while 20 are reelectionists (pie chart).



Some of them won perhaps because of the previous government positions they held like former Antipolo City Mayor Angelito Gatlabayan and former Sulu Gov. Yusop Jikiri.

A few are high-profile lawyers who earlier held appointive posts like former Immigration Commissioner Rufus Rodriguez.

Only four—Reno Lim, Carlo Oliver Diasnes, Glenn Chong and Victor Yu—have no experience in government.

While they may seem to be political neophytes among a bunch of politicians and relatives of trapos, Lim, Diasnes and Yu are allies of President Arroyo and thus ran a well-oiled campaign.

The families of Lim, Yu and Chong also reportedly own successful business establishments. Chong is a member of the Liberal Party-Drilon faction.

Cenpeg’s Tuazon says these could be the emerging political clans. In many cases, victory through money is enough. Political families with narrowed-down resources are bound to lose.

“The rise and fall of political clans depends on economic resources. Political dynasties exist because of the strong economic base," Tuazon says. --GMANews.TV

*News Research defines members of political families as 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.