It’s still all in the family in Mindanao’s political landscape:Davao City, Dinagat and Lanaos

In Davao City, it’s Duterte versus Nograles and in the City Council, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, wives and husbands are running for the post their loved ones are vacating.

Post-EDSA six-termer mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte (1988 to 1998; 2001 to 2010) is not running for congressman of the first district as he did in 1998 when he “graduated” from his first three terms as mayor. Duterte (LP) is running for vice mayor, the post currently held by his daughter, Sara Zimmerman Duterte (PDP Laban) who is running for mayor against House Speaker Prospero Castillo Nograles (LK) and three others.
Nograles’ son, Karlo Alexei Bendigo Nograles (LK), his chief of staff, is running for the post he served for three terms.

The elder Duterte is facing two opponents in the vice mayoralty race: his former city administrator and later vice mayor, Benjamin de Guzman (LK) who was the mayor from 1998 to 2001 and Roberto Viloria Macaraeg (Ind).

The younger Nograles is facing six opponents, including the estranged sister of Duterte, Jocelyn Roa Duterte (Ind), three-term councilor Maria Belen Sunga-Acosta (LP), Bernard Sabino Custodio (Ind), Anacleto Belleza Millendez (Ind), Robert Elnar Olanolan (Ind) and Juan Resemilla Zamora (Ind).

In the second congressional district, three-term Rep. Vincent Garcia’s sister Mylene De Joya Castillo (Ind) is running against Dexter Antonio Alcebar (Ind), Joji Ilagan Bian (LK), and councilors Danilo Castillo Dayanghirang (LP), and Diosdado Angelo Abello Mahipus (PDP Laban).

In the third district, Rep. Isidro Ungab (LP), is facing five other candidates: Wilberto Echavez Al-ag (PDP Laban), Gerardo Caalaman Braganza (Ind), Gregorio Chavez Canada (NP), and former Rep. Ruy Elias Lopez (NPC).

A total of 100 candidates are running for the city’s 24 council seats in three districts -- the biggest number in Mindanao: 41 in the 1st district, 29 in the 2nd and 30 in the 3rd.

In all three districts, the sons, daughters, sisters, brothers, wives, husbands are running for the posts their relatives are vacating.

Among those running in the first district are: Nilo Abellera’s son, Nilo, Jr. (LP); Leo Avila’s son, Lester Lawrence (Ind); Bonguyan’s daughter Joanne Mendoza (LK); Peter Lavina’s wife, Evelyn Gonzales (LP); Angela Librado’s sister, Leah; Bonifacio Militar’s son, Napoleon Tac-an.

In the second didstrict, two Alterados are running: Ernie Ilagan (PDP Laban) and Senforiano Ilagan Jr (Ind); two Aportaderas: Angelo Arancel (LK) and Michael Protacio (LP); two Orcullos: Nenita Roldan and her brother-in-law Beethoven; former councilor and former vice mayor’s son Louie John Jose (LP);

In the third district, two Dalodos are running: Myrna Gerolin Dalodo-Ortiz (PDP Laban) and her brother Doming Gerolin Dalodo (Ind).

Karlo Santos Bello, grandson of former Davao City mayor Luis Santos and son of former Justice Secretary Silvestre Bello, a senatorial candidate, is running for reelection as councilor; Rene Elias Lopez is also seeking reelection while his brother Ruy Elias, former representative to Congress, is running for the same seat in Congress.

Ecleo Islands

Dinagat Islands province is still the Ecleos’. Glenda Buray Ecleo (LK) is running for governor against Harry Echin Meso (LP); her daughter Geraldine Ecleo Villaroman (Ind) is running for vice governor against Elvis Arrocena dela Merced (LK) and Sangkil Ham Park (LP); and her son Ruben Ecleo, Jr. (LK) is running for the lone representative to Congress against Francisco Gorres Rojas, Sr.

One Ecleo is running for first district provincial board membership: Romeo Palapo Ecleo (LK); while three Ecleos are running for the second district: Joslyn Itable Ecleo (LK), Jurry Echin Ecleo (Ind) and Lordes Gersalino Ecleo (Ind).

Three Ecleo children need not campaign. They are running unopposed: Alan Buray Ecleo I (LK) for mayor of Basilisa town; Gwendolyn Buray Ecleo (LK) for mayor of Dinagat town; Alan Buray Ecleo II (LK) for mayor of San Jose.

In Dinagat, it is not just the mayoral candidate who is running unopposed but her running mate, Lilibeth Diegas Edradan (LK) and her entire slate of eight candidates for the eight-seat municipal board.

In Cagdianao, Ruben Alborja Ecleo (LK) is running for vice mayor against Orlando Lazaro Oyales (Ind).

In San Jose, three other Ecleos are running for councilor: Elvin Palapo (LK), Jessie Dagairag (LK) and Michael Angelo Madron.

In Lanao del Norte, the Dimaporos are still the family to beat.

Governor Mohammad K. Quibranza Dimaporo is running for reelection. His mother, Imelda Quibranza Dimaporo is running for 1st district representative against Independent bets Rangiit Gedren Llorente Amisola and Macarupung Butong Dibaratun and Romulo Cailing Rizalda (LP) while his sister, Fatima Aliah Quibranza Dimaporo is running for 2nd district representative against Tingagon Ampaso Umpa (LP).

The incumbent 2nd district Rep is her father, Abdullah who also once served as governor of the province.

In Lanao del Sur, Governor Mamintal Alonto Adiong, Jr., (LK) is running for reelection against six other candidates: former three-term Marawi City mayor Omar Macabalang Ali (NP), Ahmadjam Marogong Abdulcarim (Ind), Abohamadmahmod Tuan Abdullah (Ind), Jiamil Maruhom Dianalan (LM), Muhammadomar Sarip Malawad (Ind) and Bashier Dimaalaang Manalao (PMP).

In the first congressional district, Rep. Faysah Dumarpa is ending her three terms in office with her husband Salic Biston Dumarpa (NP) running for her post against Abul Khayr Abul Alonto (Ind), Salic Ayo Mundir (PMP), Mohammed Hussein Pacasum Pangandaman (LK) and Princess Johayra D. Pacasum Pangarungan (Ind).

Pangandaman is son of Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pagandaman and grandson of former ARMM governor Liningding Pangandaman while Diamond is wife of former OIC Lanao del Sur Governor Saidamen Pangarungan. [Tomorrow: Same faces, same family names in Maguindanao, Misamis, North Cotabato] (Carolyn O. Arguillas/MindaNews)

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