EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the sixth of a series of articles which identified some of the prominent political dynasties in the country.   Studies conducted by the Ateneo School of Government (ASOG) identify two types of political dynasties inherent to Philippine experience. “Thin” dynasties involve family members succeeding one another in office [sunod-sunod], often as a means to circumvent term limits and maintain political influence. In contrast, “fat” dynasties are composed of family members running for and holding multiple positions at the same time [sabay-sabay] in the legislative and executive branches of government (Mendoza, et al., 2019).

Using the data collected by the Ateneo School of Government through the Ateneo Policy Center from 1992 to 2022, and with additional historical research from News5 Digital, we compiled lists of family members for the ten vote-rich provinces in the Philippines for the 2025 elections. Through a combination of AI tools and manual review, the dominant families in the ten largest voting provinces were identified and arranged chronologically, from the oldest to the youngest members on record. While some family rosters are exhaustive, others remain incomplete due to the lack or scarcity of information confirming each member’s position and term in office.  

(May 10, 2025) – Negros Occidental is the sixth vote-rich province in the country. With more than two million voters for the 2025 elections, the land of political honey stirred by sugar barons is one of the prime electoral bases in the Visayas, offering candidates significant leverage in shaping voting outcomes and national alliances. The province’s elections can influence not only local governance but also the composition of the House of Representatives and, indirectly, the Senate, given an extensive voter base. In the same province, certain families have directed and-redirected everyday political discourse among the Negrense electorate. Their lineage binds promise and performance with political choices in the province.

A look into the election data of the Ateneo Policy Center from 1992 to 2022, coupled with historical research from News5 Digital, shows how seven families—Lacson, Marañon, Montilla, Benitez, Yulo, Ferrer, and Alvarez—have shaped the province’s political landscape for over three decades.

LACSON FAMILY

Among the most entrenched political dynasties in Negros Occidental, the Lacson family stands out for its historical breadth and geographic reach. The family count as among their ancestors the revolutionary leader Aniceto Lacson, who led the short-lived Republic of Negros in the late 19th century. With their history in politics spanning multiple decades, the clan has produced more than a dozen political figures particularly in Talisay, Bacolod, and Cadiz City.

The Lacsons’ expansive political network and generational continuity have cemented their position as one of the most powerful families in Western Visayas to date.

Isaac Lacson

MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, GOVERNOR, SENATOR

• He is the son of Aniceto Lacson. Isaac was among the family’s most prominent political figures, having served as a senator (1934-1935) during the American colonial era. Before this, he was also a lower house representative (1925-1928) then governor (1928-1931) of Negros Occidental.

Rafael Lacson

MAYOR, GOVERNOR

• A nephew of Isaac, Rafael served as governor of the province from 1946 to 1951, after the Philippines regained independence. He also served as mayor of Talisay City. During the 1950s, he received the death penalty for the torture and killing of Moises Padilla, an opposition figure in his hometown. He was never executed after the Supreme Court commuted his sentence to live imprisonment due to procedural issues.

Eugenio Jose “Bong” Lacson

COUNCILOR, MAYOR, VICE GOVERNOR, GOVERNOR

• Bong is the great-grandson of Domingo Ledesma Lacson, brother of Aniceto and Isaac’s father. He previously served as mayor of San Carlos City for three terms, then later as vice governor for another two terms before assuming the gubernatorial post in 2019. He will seek a third term in 2025.

Lourdes Arroyo-Lesaca

MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

• She is the granddaughter of Jesusa Araneta Lacson, who is a daughter of Aniceto Lacson. Lourdes is the sister of the former first gentleman Mike Arroyo. She was elected as 5^th district representative of Negros Occidental in 2019.

Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo Jr.

MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

• Iggy is a brother of Lourdes and Mike Arroyo. The brother-in-law of former president and incumbent lawmaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo represented the 5^th district from 2004 to 2012. Before running for Congress, Iggy claimed ownership of the controversial “Jose Pidal” bank accounts (UnionBank and BPI Family Bank) which implicated his brother Mike over accusations of laundering campaign funds for President Arroyo.

MARAÑON FAMILY

The Marañon clan’s power is concentrated in the northern Negros Occidental city of Sagay, with members rotating in and out of mayoral and gubernatorial positions.

Joseph Marañon Jr.

GOVERNOR

• Joseph served as governor from 2001 until his death in 2009. From 1992 to 2001, he also served as mayor of Sagay, which was converted from a municipality to a component city.

Alfredo “Freddie” Marañon Jr.

MAYOR, GOVERNOR, MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

• After the passing of his brother Joseph, Freddie became governor from 2010 to 2019.  He previously served as mayor of Sagay City from 2004 to 2013 after finishing three terms as congressman from 1995 to 2004.

Alfredo Marañon III

MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

• The son of Freddie followed his father’s footsteps, serving as a member of the House of Representatives from 2004 to 2013. He is currently representing the 2^nd district of the province and is running unopposed for a second term in 2025.

FERRER FAMILY

The Ferrer family’s influence is concentrated mainly in La Carlota City, where some of their members have served as mayor, vice mayor, and lower house lawmakers.

Jeffrey Ferrer

MAYOR, VICE GOVERNOR

• Jeffrey currently sits as the two-term vice governor. Before this, he served as councilor and mayor of La Carlota City. He is running for 4^th district congressman in 2025.

Juliet Ferrer

MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, MAYOR

• Jeffrey’s wife Julie is the incumbent representative of Negros Occidental’s 4^th district in her third term. She also served as the mayor of La Carlota City from 2010 to 2016.  

Julius Asistio Ferrer

COUNCILOR

• He is the son of Jeffrey and Juliet. He has been a councilor of La Carlota City since 2016.

ALVAREZ FAMILY

The Alvarez family has dominated the 6^th congressional district for two decades. Their persistence in Negros, particularly in the southern town of Ilog, underscores a model of dynastic governance across all levels of government and municipalities.

Genaro Alvarez Jr.

MAYOR, VICE GOVERNOR, MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

• He was elected as vice governor in 2016. He also served as a member of the House of Representatives for several terms before becoming mayor in 2013. Following his stint in the capitol, he went back as a lawmaker in 2019.

Mercedes Alvarez-Lansang

MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

• Genaro’s daughter Mercedes is the incumbent representative of Negros Occidental’s 6^th district after winning in 2022. She has previously taken the same post from 2010 to 2019. Mercedes is running for a second term in 2025.

Genaro Rafael Alvarez III

MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, MAYOR

• The son and namesake of Genaro Alvarez Jr., he alternated in representing the 6^th  district alongside sister Mercedes and their father. He was elected congressman in 2004. In 2016, he became the mayor of Ilog.

John Paul Alvarez

MAYOR, COUNCILOR

• John Paul, one of Genaros’ sons, stayed in the town of Ilog since the 1990s. He has been elected as councilor and mayor for several terms.

BENITEZ FAMILY

The Benitez family has emerged as a modern political force in Negros Occidental, blending business acumen, legislative influence, and educational advocacy to reshape the province’s development trajectory.

Alfredo “Albee” Benitez

MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, MAYOR

• Albee was 3^rd district representative from 2010 to 2019. Following his tenure in Congress, he was elected mayor of Bacolod City in 2022. Albee will make a congressional comeback in the 2025 election.

Jose Francisco “Kiko” Benitez

MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

• He is Albee’s brother who also represented the 3^rd district in 2019.  He was reelected in 2022 until his appointment as director general of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

Javier Lopez “Javi” Benitez

MAYOR

• Javi, the son of Albee, was elected mayor of Victorias City in 2022. He is now running as 3^rd district congressman.

YULO FAMILY

The Yulo clan is among the oldest political families in the province, tracing its roots to the American-period senator and governor Mariano Yulo. The clan has continued to maintain influence in local politics in recent years.

Mariano Yulo

GOVERNOR, SENATOR

• He served as a senator from 1925 to 1929. A doctor by profession, he was also elected as a governor from 1908 to 1912.

Emilio Bernardino “Dino” Yulo III

VICE GOVERNOR, MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

• A later-generation relative of Mariano, Dino is currently the representative of Negros Occidental’s 5^th district. He also served as vice governor from 2008 to 2010.

Ella Yulo

VICE MAYOR, MAYOR

• Ella is the incumbent two-term mayor of Moises Padilla. She also previously served as vice mayor.

Nicholas Yulo

MAYOR

• The three-term incumbent Bago City mayor is the son of former Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) administrator Arsenio “Buc-an” Yulo Jr. He also served as a vice mayor and councilor of the city.

Arsenio “Buc-an” Yulo Jr.

COUNCILOR

• A former administrator of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), Buc-an served as a Bago City councilor from 1964 to 1969. His son Nicholas is the current mayor of the city.

MONTILLA FAMILY

For decades, the Montilla family dominated the local politics in Sipalay even before it was converted into a component city in 2001. The family continues to maintain a steady local government presence both in the city and other parts of the province.

Soledad Montilla

MAYOR

• She was Sipalay mayor from 1988 to 1998. She alternated with her son Oscar Jr. in taking up the mayoralty post, up until she reportedly stepped down from politics between 2007 and 2009 because of illness.

Oscar Montilla Jr.

COUNCILOR, VICE MAYOR, MAYOR

• He is the son of Soledad and a former city councilor. He first took over as the mayor of the then-municipality of Sipalay in 1998, serving three consecutive terms after his mother Soledad died in 2009. It was under his leadership that the then-municipality’s campaign to be converted into a city bore fruit in 2001. He returned as mayor in 2010 and served until 2019. In 2019 he was elected vice mayor but was permanently disqualified from holding public office following his graft conviction by the Ombudsman. Oscar Jr. will again run for vice mayor in 2025.

Gina Montilla-Lizares

Mayor

• Gina took over as mayor of Sipalay City in 2019 after her brother Oscar Jr. completed his third term in the same post. She is eyeing a third term as mayor with her brother Oscar Jr. as running mate.

Why Negros Occidental matters in 2025

With the re-establishment of the Negros Island Region, Negros Occidental’s political dynamics has gained more significance, as leadership and policy direction in the province are deemed to impact the entire region’s development. 

Negros Occidental as the region’s largest province brings enough persuasive appeal for national parties and presidential coalitions seeking to consolidate influence ahead of the 2028 presidential elections. Established local clans have historically served as regional kingmakers, delivering bloc votes and commanding expansive political machinery. As the country’s sugar bowl, the province also commands substantial economic force, urging office aspirants to sweeten political deals with the Negrense electorate through honeyed promises and gestures in competitive or uncontested races.