ILOILO, Philippines — Incumbent Miagao Mayor Richard Garin Jr. secured a second term after he was proclaimed by the Municipal Board of Canvassers on Tuesday, May 13, defeating former political ally Macario Napulan.
Garin garnered 20,193 votes, against Napulan’s 16,119 votes, based on the final official results reflected in the municipal certificate of canvass morning.
In the vice mayoral race, Dr. Salve Napud, Napulan’s running mate, won with 19,324 votes, beating Carmelo Nochete, who garnered 16,054.
The contest drew local attention due to the candidates’ shared political history. In the 2022 local elections, Garin Jr. and Napulan ran under the same ticket and won as mayor and vice mayor, respectively, a partnership that has since fractured and turned into a high-stakes rivalry.
In his proclamation speech, Garin vowed to deliver sincere and inclusive public service.
“Mayor Richard Garin will not fail you,” he said in a mix of English, Filipino, and Hiligaynon. “As I have told you, show me your faith, and I will show you my work,” he added.
Addressing his political opponents, Garin stressed mutual respect for the democratic process. “Sa mga napildi, you are not losers. Even to my opponent, we were all there to present kang aton masarangan, kag it depends on the people. We will always respect the decision of the majority.” (To those who lost, you are not losers. Even to my opponent, we were all there to present what we could offer, and it was up to the people. We will always respect the decision of the majority.)
Husband and wife Richard and Janet Garin transferred their registration from Guimbal towto Miagao in 2021. During the 2022 elections, Richard ran for mayor with then term-limited incumbent mayor Napulan sliding down to vice mayor candidate.
Solidifying base in Iloilo’s first district
Richard’s successful bid to retain the mayoralty post of Miagao cements their family’s political stranglehold of Iloilo’s first district. A scion of the influential Garin political dynasty, he ran under Lakas-CMD together with several family members, most of whom also secured key positions in local government.
His wife, Janet, was also proclaimed by Comelec afternoon of May 13 as Iloilo’s First District representative in a landslide victory, reaffirming her long-standing presence in national politics. Their daughter, Rica Garin, made her political debut this year and successfully clinched a seat in the provincial board.
In Guimbal town, sisters Mayor Jennifer Garin-Collada and Iloilo Vice Governor Christine Garin secured wins as mayor and vice mayor, respectively. Christine Garin ran unopposed, while Jennifer Garin-Collada retained her seat in a decisive victory with 17,493 votes versus her opponent Eduardo Gargaritano’s 1,859.
Meanwhile, their cousin, Provincial Board Member Val Serag, lost in his bid to succeed Garin matriarch Ninfa Garin as mayor of the neighboring town of San Joaquin. With 98.9% of election returns transmitted as of 7:30 p.m. on May 13, Serag garnered 13,117 votes, while his opponent, Abad Lazaro, led with 15,085 votes.
According to the local Comelec office, voter turnout in Miagao was 88.26%, with 37,020 of the municipality’s registered voters casting their ballots. During the 2022 elections, voter turnout was 86.94%. – Rappler.com
Rey Mark Paran is a senior Statistics student at the University of the Philippines Visayas. He is the managing editor of Pagbutlak and an Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship candidate from April-May 2025.