VZCZCXRO9766
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHML #1494/01 1291031
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O 091031Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6422
INFO RUEHZS/ASEAN COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 MANILA 001494 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PINR RP
SUBJECT: 2007 MID-TERM ELECTIONS: ALL IN THE FAMILY 
 
Ref:  A. Manila 1467 
  ¶B. Manila 1215 
-     C.  Manila 1073 
 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary.  Political dynasties again will dominate many 
Philippine elections at the national, provincial, and local levels. 
Despite clear term limitations, political dynasties often turn to 
other family members to "warm" their seats until they can return or 
simply trade seats.  Family-dominated politics reflect a highly 
stratified elite structure, the importance of name recognition 
coupled with weak political parties and old-fashioned patronage. 
End Summary. 
 
First Family Sets Example 
------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Daughter of a previous President, incumbent President 
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her family are perpetuating a family 
tradition of public service.  First Son Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo 
is seeking re-election (unopposed) in the second Congressional 
district in Pampanga, the President's home province.  His younger 
brother Dato Arroyo is a first-time candidate in Camarines Sur, 
south of Manila, where he attended university and in whose dialect 
he is fluent.  ("They love him there," according to First Daughter 
Luli.)  First Gentleman Juan Miguel "Mike" Arroyo's brother Ignacio 
is seeking re-election in the fifth Congressional district of Negros 
Occidental province in the Visayas.  The First Gentleman's sister 
Marilou Arroyo is a nominee for a party-list seat representing 
Kasangga sa Kaunlaran (Partners for Progress). 
 
Cabinet and Senate Follow Suit 
------------------------------ 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Children of several Cabinet members are also competing 
this year.  Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo's lawyer-son Roman is 
running for the lone Congressional seat in Pasig City, while 
daughter Berna Romulo-Puyat is running in the first Congressional 
district of Quezon City, both in Metro Manila.  (Both have been 
unsuccessful in previous bids.)  Eileen Ermita-Buhain, daughter of 
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, is seeking re-election in the 
first Congressional district of Batangas province (of which her 
father was once a three-time Congressman), while brother Edwin is 
running for vice governor of the province.  Mark Leandro "Dong" 
Mendoza, son of former Philippine National Police chief and current 
Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza, is also seeking a 
Congressional seat in Batangas.  Maria Aurora Gonzalez, eldest 
daughter of National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzalez, is running 
in the second Congressional district of Bataan, where her father had 
earlier pondered but decided a campaign this year (in part due to 
reported death threats from the New People's Army, he has 
admitted). 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno's younger brother, 
broadcast journalist Ricardo Puno, challenges incumbent Congressman 
Rufino Biazon, son of incumbent Senator Rodolfo Biazon in Muntinlupa 
City of Metro Manila.  Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales' son, Raul 
Jr., is seeking re-election as Congressman in Iloilo.  The son of 
Presidential Advisor on Revenue Enhancement Narciso "Jun" Santiago, 
Jr. (husband of Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, the aunt of Senate 
candidate and former Congressman and Presidential Chief of Staff 
Michael Defensor) -- Narciso III -- is a party-list nominee for 
Congress. 
 
¶5.  (B)  Bowing out of politics, Finance Secretary Gary Teves' 
father Herminio, who has completed a third and final term 
representing the third Congressional district of Negros Oriental, 
has fielded grandson Pryde Henry Teves to replace him. 
 
¶6.  (SBU)  In Danao City of Cebu province, the father of Tourism 
Secretary and Team Unity Spokesman Joseph "Ace" Durano -- Mayor 
 
SIPDIS 
Ramonito Durano (who served as Congressman for three terms before 
first son "Ace" and then son Ramon "Red" Durano VI replaced him) -- 
again faces a challenge from older brother Don, who lost in 2001 and 
¶2004.  "Red" is seeking re-election in the fifth Congressional 
district. 
 
¶7.  (SBU)  The son of Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Nene" 
Pimentel, Jr. (who is not up for re-election this year), "Koko," is 
running for the Senate as part of the Genuine Opposition (although 
his father swears that this was not his idea).  The cousin of 
outgoing Senator Ramon Magsaysay, Jr., "Vic" Magsaysay, is part of 
the Team Unity ticket for the Senate.   Incumbent Senator Manuel 
"Lito" Lapid is running for Makati City Mayor (see para 12). 
 
¶8.  (SUB)  The sons of incumbent Senator (and Senate candidate on 
the Team Unity ticket) Edgardo Angara and of incumbent Senator Juan 
Ponce Enrile are seeking Congressional re-elections in the family 
bases of Aurora province and Cagayan, respectively.  The brother of 
 
MANILA 00001494  002 OF 004 
 
 
incumbent Senator Pilar Juliana "Pia" Cayetano, Alan Peter, is a 
Senate candidate for the Genuine Opposition.  Popular actress and 
current Lipa City Mayor Vilma Santos, wife of incumbent Senator and 
current Team Unity Senate candidate Ralph Recto, is running for 
governor of Batangas province, after having convinced brother-in-law 
Ricky Recto to drop his candidacy and instead seek the fourth 
Congressional district seat.  Incumbent Senate President Manuel 
"Manny" Villar Jr. is again running for Senate, while his 
Congresswoman/wife Cynthia is seeking re-election in Las Pinas City; 
they remain the richest members of their respective houses. 
 
¶9.  (SBU) Less noticeable but still noteworthy, son Edwin of Ephraim 
Genuino, close aide of the President and head of the powerful 
Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, is running in the 
second Congressional district of Makati, while son Anthony is 
running for councilor in Makati City. 
 
Metro Manila "Mafias" 
--------------------- 
 
¶10.  (SBU) In the City of Manila (where the Chancery is located), 
son "Ali" of term-limited incumbent Mayor "Lito" Atienza is seeking 
to replace his dad, after having worked in his father's 
Administration for the past decade.  He has adopted his father's 
traditional Hawaiian shirts and openly admits that his father will 
be his political guide.  He nonetheless faces some tough opposition, 
including incumbent Senator Alfredo Lim, third-term Congressman 
Rodolfo Bacani of the fourth district, and incumbent Vice Mayor 
Danny Lacuna. 
 
¶11.  (SBU) In Valenzuela City, Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian - son of 
former Estrada crony and businessman William Gatchalian -- is 
seeking re-election.  Sherwin's brothers Rexton and Weslie are 
seeking the first and second Congressional district seats, 
respectively.  San Juan Mayor JV Ejercito -- son of ousted President 
Joseph Estrada -- is seeking a third and final term.  Ejercito 
scrapped initial plans to run for the Senate on the Genuine 
Opposition ticket; his mother/former actress Guia Gomez had 
otherwise planned for mayor to run against Precy Ejercito, wife of 
JV's half-brother, incumbent Senator Jinggoy Estrada. 
 
¶12. (SBU) Leader of the Genuine Opposition Jejomar "Jojo" Binay is 
seeking re-election as mayor of Makati City, the country's financial 
and business capital, despite a late night May 4 effort by the 
Department of Local and Interior Government to serve a suspension 
order from the Office of the Ombudsman, in apparent violation of the 
rules of order from the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) against 
campaign season suspensions.  He has been mayor for a total of 19 
years; wife Elenita warmed the mayoral seat after Jojo was 
term-limited in 1998.  Son Jejomar "JunJun" Erwin, 29, is also 
seeking re-election, as councilor, while lawyer-daughter Abigail, 
31, is vying for the second Congressional district seat.  Mayor 
Binay typically responds to criticism of nepotism with an assertion 
that strengthening his family's political strength is "proof of a 
healthy democracy." 
 
Same Story in "The Provinces" 
----------------------------- 
 
¶13.  (SBU) This phenomenon of political dynasties exists throughout 
the country.  Below is a rundown of selected provinces, from north 
to south. 
 
¶14.  (SBU) In Luzon, term-limited Governor Ferdinand "Bongbong" 
Marcos, Jr. is backing his cousin, provincial legislator Michael 
Keon, to replace him as Ilocos Norte governor.  Bongbong will 
instead vie for the second Congressional district seat to be vacated 
by sister Imee, who decided to take a break from politics.  In 
Isabela province, Governor Grace Padaca, whose 2004 victory brought 
democratic space to a province long dominated by the Dy political 
clan, faces former Governor Benjamin Dy.  Dy's brothers Caesar and 
Napoleon are seeking re-election as mayors in Cauayan and Alicia 
towns, respectively. 
 
¶15.  (SBU) In Bulacan, north of Metro Manila, outgoing Bulacan 
Governor Josie de la Cruz is supporting her brother, Provincial 
Board Member Joselito Mendoza, to take over her seat.  In 
Pangasinan, House Speaker Jose de Venecia is optimistic he will 
retain the fourth Congressional district seat, but faces competition 
from outgoing Dagupan City Mayor Benjamin Lim, whose 28-year old son 
Brian is seeking to replace him.  The wife of outgoing governor 
Victor Agbayani, who himself is seeking the second Congressional 
district seat, is in a tight three-way fight over the governorship. 
 
 
¶16.  (SBU) In the Bicol region, the Villafuerte clan continues to 
dominate Camarines Sur province.  Ruling party KAMPI chief and 
second district Congressman Luis Villafuerte as well as son Governor 
Luis Raymond are seeking re-election, albeit under different 
 
MANILA 00001494  003 OF 004 
 
 
parties.  (They are actively supporting the candidacy of First Son 
Dato Arroyo in the first Congressional district.)  The late Senator 
Raul Roco's brother, former Congressman Sulpicio Roco, will 
challenge Villafuerte.  (Raul Roco's widow, Sonia, is on the Genuine 
Opposition senatorial slate.)  In Sorsogon Province, Genuine 
Opposition Senate candidate and incumbent Congressional Minority 
Leader Francis "Chiz" Escudero's father Salvador is seeking to 
return to his old place in Congress. 
 
¶17.  (SBU) In the Visayas, three from the Garcia clan in Cebu -- 
which delivered winning votes for President Arroyo in the 2004 
presidential elections -- are in the thick of campaigning. 
Incumbent Governor Gwendolyn Garcia is seeking re-election, but 
faces a challenge from an outgoing representative.  Father Pablo 
Garcia, who preceded Gwen as Cebu governor, is seeking the second 
Congressional district seat, while his son Pablo John seeks the 
third Congressional district seat. 
 
¶18.  (SBU) Among the Tupas clan of Iloilo -- who have joined the 
opposition -- incumbent Governor Niel Tupas is seeking re-election, 
while eldest son Niel Jr. aspires for the fifth Congressional 
district seat, after completing a term as provincial legislator. 
Second oldest son, town Mayor Raul Tupas, is also seeking 
re-election, while youngest child Nielex is running for councilor in 
Iloilo City.   In Naga City, incumbent Mayor Jesse Robredo -- 
currently facing yet another disqualification suit for his alleged 
Chinese citizenship -- has designated his wife as his substitute 
candidate in the event he loses his case. 
 
¶19.  (SBU) In Mindanao, the Zubiri clan of Bukidnon province is 
deploying at least four members in the various local races in the 
province.  Incumbent governor and family patriarch Jose Maria Zubiri 
is seeking re-election, while son Jose Maria Zubiri III seeks the 
third Congressional district seat vacated by older brother Juan 
Miguel "Migz" Zubiri, who is running for the Senate with Team Unity. 
 Nephew Inaki Zubiri, the outgoing Malaybalay City Vice Mayor, faces 
former Commissioner of Elections Virgilio Garcillano (the presumed 
voice talking to President Arroyo in 2004 on the now-infamous "Hello 
Garci" wiretap), along with Maria Lourdes Acosta, sister of outgoing 
Congressman Nereus Acosta, who is running for governor.  Acosta's 
mother Socorro is meanwhile seeking re-election as mayor of Manolo 
Fortich town. 
 
¶20.  (SBU) In Camiguin province, Governor Pedro Romualdo and 
Congressman-son Jesus Romualdo have agreed to switch seats (assuming 
the electorate agrees).  However, another son, Mambajao town 
incumbent mayor Noordin, is also running for this Congressional 
seat, aligned with his clan's political nemesis, Attorney Antonio 
Gallardo, the former governor who is now seeking to reclaim his old 
job.  Davao City showcases a perhaps unique father-and-daughter 
tandem -- incumbent Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and lawyer-daughter Sara 
-- running virtually unopposed for mayor and vice mayor, 
respectively. 
 
¶21.  (SBU) Facing the end of his third and final term, Basilan 
Governor Wahab Akbar is seeking the lone Congressional seat to be 
vacated by term-limited Gerry Salapuddin.  Akbar's first wife is 
running for governor; his second wife is running for mayor of 
Lamitan City; and third wife is running for mayor of Isabela City. 
(Akbar is a Muslim and entitled to more than one wife.)  The Pinol 
brothers are running for key positions in North Cotabato. 
Term-limited Governor Emmanuel Pinol is sliding down to seek the 
vice gubernatorial seat.  Brother Bernardo is campaigning for the 
second Congressional district seat, while two other brothers, Efren 
and Joselito, are each running for mayor in their respective towns. 
International featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao challenges 
incumbent Congresswoman Darlene Antonino Custodio in the first 
district of South Cotabato Province.  The Antoninos have dominated 
local politics for at least 20 years and a Pacquaio victory would 
represent a significant upset; he is, however, trailing in the 
latest polls. 
 
¶22.  (SBU) In Maguindanao province, Governor Andal Ampatuan is 
seeking re-election unopposed.  Immediate and distant relatives of 
Governor Ampatuan are candidates for mayor in 18 of the 22 
municipalities in Magunidanao, and all are unopposed.  Son-in-law 
"Bimbo" Sinsuat faces a tough challenge from one of the Mastura clan 
as governor of the neighboring new province of Shariff Kabunsuan, 
however.  Ampatuan's son Datu Zaldy is currently governor of the 
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶23.  (SBU) With few exceptions, politics in the Philippines remains 
very much an elite, insider game.  Few upstarts or grass-roots "poor 
boy" candidates succeed in challenging traditional landowners or 
local chieftains, who in many cases have dominated the area for 
decades or even generations.  This is another reflection of a highly 
 
MANILA 00001494  004 OF 004 
 
 
stratified, almost feudal societal structure, although a few of the 
more recently rich Sino-Philippine families have begun to edge out 
some older families.  The other key to success in local and even 
national politics is simple name recognition; voters remember the 
politicians' names they have always known and continue to write in 
the newest family candidates.  The personality-driven political 
system with its weak and ever-changing political parties makes such 
family ties even more important.  On top of these factors, 
old-fashioned patronage -- along with allegations of vote buying and 
command voting by local "barangay" captains to ensure precinct 
voters make the "right" choice -- continues to play a more sinister 
but almost inevitable role in favoring incumbents and their anointed 
relatives. 
 
KENNEY