MINDANAO 2025: Still all in the family in most of Mindanao’s 33 cities

(A look back on the year that was in Mindanao, and Mindanawons in the national and international scene.)

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 10 June) – Of 33 cities in Mindanao, three — Davao, Bayugan and Marawi — elected mayors, vice mayors and councilors from the same family in May 2025 for another three-year term; two cities elected a mayor and vice mayor from the same political clan: Lamitan in Basilan, and Valencia in Bukidnon. 

Bayugan’s Mayor is Kirk Aninon Asis (NUP), now on his third term. The  Vice Mayor is brother Kim Aninon Asis (NUP) and another brother, Kim Lope (NUP), is number one councilor. 

The Asis family has ruled Bayugan while it was still a town and since its conversion into a city in 2007. By June 30, 2028, the Asis dynasty shall have ruled the city for 31 years. Its first city mayor was Magdalena Anino Asis (2007 to 2010), her son Kim lope (2010 to 2019) and son Kirk from 2019 to 2028.

In Davao City, Rodrigo Roa Duterte, former President and long-time mayor of Davao City, was elected to an 8^th term as mayor. His youngest son, Sebastian, was elected Vice Mayor, a post he had occupied from 2019 to 2022. Rodrigo’s eldest son, Paolo, was elected to a third term as 1^st district representative; Paolo’s eldest son, Omar Vincent, was elected 2^nd district representative while his other son, Rodrigo II, was elected number one councilor. 

Three more Dutertes are in public office: Vice President Sara, whose term is from 2022 to 2028;  Paolo’s wife, January, whose term as barangay chair ends in November; and cousin Harold, who represents the PPP partylist in the House of Representatives. 

_{^{DUTERTES ALL. Huge tarpaulin at the New Matina Gallery along Matina in Davao City’s District 1 shows four of the five Duterte candidates for the May 12, 2025 polls. (L to R): Rodrigo for his eighth term as mayor, Mayor Sebastian for his second term as Vice Mayor, Paolo for his third term as Representative of the 1st district, and Rodrigo II (Rigo) for councilor of the first district. Paolo’s eldest son Omar is not in the photo as he is running for Representative of District 2. MindaNews photo by CAROLYN O. ARGUILLAS}}

From 1988, the first post-EDSA election, the city has been ruled by the Dutertes, except for 1998 to 2001 when the patriarch was term-limited. Rodrigo Duterte was mayor from 1988 to 1998; 2001 to 2010; 2013 to 2016; and was elected in absentia for 2025 to 2028. 

The patriarch was arrested on March 11 and is now in The Hague, the Netherlands, to face charges of crimes against humanity. His mayoralty seat was vacated as of November 13, for failing to take his oath of office within six months from his proclamation as winner by the Commission on Elections.

In October, MindaNews asked the Department of Interior and Local Governments (DILG) central office on the status of the Duterte’s mayoral post by November 13. In the DILG’s reply on November 6, Romeo Benitez, Undersecretary for External, Legal and Legislative Affairs, said: “In light of FPRRD’s failure to take his oath of office within six months, his office shall be considered vacant. Having failed to qualify, a permanent vacancy ensues in his office calling for the assumption of the Vice Mayor as the new LCE (Local Chief Executive) and the highest ranking Sanggunian Member as Vice Mayor, pursuant to Section 44 of the Local Government Code.”

In Marawi, three-term mayor Majul Gandamra (2016 to 2025) was elected Vice Mayor while his son Shariff Zain Lanto Gandamra was elected Mayor and another son, Mohammad Shaquille Lanto Gandamra (Lakas-CMD) is number one councilor. 

Lamitan in Basilan and Valencia in Bukdindon elected a mayor and vice mayor from the same political clan. 

Lamitan Mayor Roderick Herrera (PFP) won a fifth term as mayor of Lamitan City while nephew Hegem Cabrera Furigay was elected Vice Mayor.  Hegem ran unopposed. 

The city has known no other mayor but the Furigays since the town was converted into a city in 2004. Roderick was mayor from 2004 to 2013. His wife Rosita, was mayor from 2013 to 2022. Roderick was back as mayor in 2022 and was reelected in 2025. 

In Valencia City, Amie Galido Galario (Ind) is mayor while daughter Greizzl Galario Fernandez is Vice Mayor.  Amie’s husband, Jose Galario, was the first mayor of Malaybalay when it was converted into a city in 2001. Jose was mayor from 2001 to 2007 and 2013 to 2016. 

Mayor-Councilor

Nine cities elected mayors and councilors from the same clan. 

In El Salvador, Edgar Salvo Lignes (Lakas-CMD), mayor from 2016 to 2022, is back as mayor for 2025-2028 while his son, Kent Tristan Ocay Lignes, is number 3 councilor. 

In Gingoog, Erick Generales Canosa (Lakas-CMD) is mayor while his mother Evelyn Canosa (Lakas) is number one councilor. 

In Iligan City,  Mayor Frederick Wee Siao (NP) was reelected while his son Thomas Derrick (NP), is number two councilor. 

In Kidapawan, Jose Paolo Miguel Evangelista (NPC) was reelected as mayor while his nephew, Ted Matthew Padilla Evangelista (Ind), is number two councilor. 

Since 2013, the mayor of Kidapawan has been an Evangelista. From 2013 to 2022, the mayor was Joseph Evangelista, father of the incumbent mayor. Joseph is now a Provincial Board member. Jose Paolo succeeded him as mayor in 2022 and was reelected in 2025. 

In Ozamiz, the mayor is Sam Norman Go Fuentes (Asenso Pinoy or AsPin). A cousin Lorlie Fuentes-Cipres is Councilor. Lorlie is the daughter of Benjamin Fuentes, who served as mayor from 1992 to 2001.  Sam is the younger brother of the wife of Misamis Occidental Governor Henry Oaminal.  Oaminal’s son, Sancho Fernando is 2^nd district Representative while nother son, Henry Jr. is Asenso Pinoy party-list Representative.  

In Panabo, Jose Estodillo Relampagos (PFP) is mayor while his daughter, Josie Mary or Boss JM (PFP), is councilor. 

In Tacurong, Lina Ortizo Montilla (NP) is mayor while Maria Cora Sebastian Montilla and Lallaine Jarrell Montilla are councilors. Lina’s brother, Lino, ran for Vice Mayor but lost.  Lallaine is Lina’s sister-in-law. 

In Tagum, Rey Tao Uy (Lakas-CMD) was reelected as mayor while daughter Ciara Uy-Salazar (Lakas) is councilor. 

In Tandag, Mayor Roxanne Cabrera Pimentel (PFP) is mayor while newphew-in-law John Paul Pimentel (NUP) is councilor who chairs the Philippine Councilors’ League Tandag chapter and is an ex oficio member of the Provincial Board of Surigao del Sur.  John Paul is a son of provincial governor Johnny Pimentel  (NUP) whose brother Alexander is the husband of Roxanne. Alexander (PFP) is incumbent 2^nd district Representative of Surigao del Sur to Congress. 

Four cities elected Vice Mayors and Councilors from the same family: Mati, Oroquieta, Panabo and Tandag. 

In Mati, Lorenzo Leon Garcia Rabat (PFP) is Vice Mayor while Jose Paolo Luis Razon Rabat (PFP) is councilor. 

In Oroquieta, Vice Mayor Aurora Virginia Mag-usara Almonte (AsPin) is Vice Mayor while Don Almonte is Councilor. 

In Panabo, Vice Mayor Franklin Dumlao Gentiles while Janno Paolo Paring Gentiles (PFP) is Councilor, 

In Tandag, Eleanor Darvin Momo (NP) is Vice Mayor while Maria Lourdes Kharin Cammayo Momo (NP) is councilor. Vice Mayor Momo is the wife of Surigao del Sur 1^st district Representative Romeo Momo. Rep. and Mayor Momo’s son Ruel, is a provincial board member 

In Zamboanga City, the Dalipe brothers ran for mayor and representative but lost   (Carolyn O. Arguillas / MindaNews)