Surprise pick: Marcos party chooses Debuque over Tupas for Iloilo vice governor

ILOILO CITY, Philippines – The race for Iloilo’s vice gubernatorial seat is heating up, with a congressman who previously held the position facing off against a “neophyte” mayor endorsed by the incumbent governor.

5th District Rep. Raul “Boboy” Tupas, who served as vice governor from 2013 to 2016, filed his Certificate of Candidacy (COC) for vice governor under the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party on Saturday, October 5.  

Former Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Sr., father of incumbent Governor Arthur Defensor Jr., was Tupas’ election running mate in 2013. 

Tupas, who had hoped to be chosen as vice governor by the younger Defensor, was caught off guard when the latter endorsed another candidate, despite assurances from 4th District Representative Ferjenel “Ferj” Biron that he was being considered. 

“I never imagined I would be the last to know about their discussions. I only found out recently that a decision had already been made,” he said. 

Tupas said he was surprised and disappointed that he was not informed about the group’s decision, which did not include him as a candidate for vice governor.

“Why did this happen when I have been a loyal and dependable soldier, striving to serve the people?” Tupas said, noting that he was only informed of Malacañang’s decision through a messenger, despite frequent communications with Biron.

Why Debuque?

On September 30, Defensor Jr., who is seeking a third term, endorsed Anilao Mayor Nathalie Ann Debuque as his vice governor for the 2025 midterm elections. He swore her in as member of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) on the same day. 

Although the selection of Debuque comes as a surprise, Defensor explained that the mayor’s candidacy had the blessing of the PFP, the political party of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

In the 2022 elections, Debuque ran under the Nacionalista Party (NP). She is currently serving her last term, a position she inherited from her mother in 2016. 

“I am still a neophyte to politics but I have enough experience for public service. You can trust me in bringing more success and pride for Iloilo,” she said in an interview. 

“I will stand strong on this responsibility. I will not let [the governor] down. I will not let my province down,” she said.

Defensor said he chose Debuque as his vice governor due to her “intelligence, dynamism, and competitiveness,” — qualities he believes will further his administration’s whole-of-province approach for development, the MoRProGRes Iloilo.

“We are happy to have our partner under MoRProGRes Iloilo, most especially our partner in the new direction that we are having today under the Bagong Pilipinas,” he said. 

Both Defensor and Debuque have yet to file their COCs. 

Biron, who previously ran against Defensor for the gubernatorial post in 2019, said he is overwhelmed that one of the mayors under his district was chosen as the governor’s tandem.

“We assure the governor the 100 percent from the fourth district leadership. By all means, we will make our vice governor win,” he said, emphasizing Debuque’s candidacy will bring “fresh air of leadership” in the province’s legislative body. 

Biron believes the Defensor-Debuque alliance will bring the Biron and Defensor families together once again. – Rappler.com

Rjay Castor is a community journalist and a reporter for the Iloilo-based newspaper Daily Guardian. He is also an Aries Rufo Journalism Fellow at Rappler for 2024.