2025 polls in Rizal: Ynareses cruising to easy wins, few races remain competitive

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rapplerAds.displayAd( "mobile-middle-1" );For the midterm elections in Rizal, many races are over before they even begin, due to the lack of viable challengers against reigning dynasties of the province.Rappler breaks down the state of the various election contests in Metro Manila’s neighbor, home to 1.



6 million registered voters.An easy win for the YnaresesYNARES DYNASTY. Clockwise from top left: Governor Niña Ynares, congressional aspirant Rebecca ‘Mia’ Ynares, Antipolo City Mayor Casimiro ‘Jun’ Ynares III, Binangonan vice mayoral aspirant Russel Ynares, and Binangonan mayoral aspirant Rhea Ynares.

Photos from their Facebook pages, Rizal LGU websiteThe Ynares family has been deeply entrenched in the politics of Rizal province, as no other surname has taken control of the capitol since 1992. It will stay that way for the next three years, as the dynasty enters the midterms with virtually no serious opponent. Governor Niña Ricci Ynares (Nationalist People’s Coalition) is most likely skating to an easy reelection, as her three challengers are running as independents and have no machinery to match hers.

Antipolo City Casimiro “Jun” Ynares III (Nationalist People’s Coalition) also has four opponents, all of whom are relative unknowns. (There are two Leybles running as independents, but it is unclear if they are related to Nilo Leyble, who ruled the city from 2010 to 2013.)In Binangonan, the family is again poised to have full control of the municipal hall, with Rhea Ynares (NPC) and Russel Ynares (NPC) running as a tandem to succeed Mayor Cesar Ynares and Vice Mayor Boyet Ynares, both of whom are term-limited.

The Ynareses have won every mayoral race since 1998.In Rizal’s first congressional district, there is a changing of guards though, but still in favor of the Ynareses. The Duavit family has controlled the district since 1994, but Representative Michael John “Jack” Duavit is now term-limited and won’t be passing the torch to anyone from his family.

Duavit’s party is fielding Rebecca Marie “Mia” Ynares (NPC), daughter of the incumbent governor, to succeed him. She has three opponents, none of them carrying an established surname in the province’s politics. Kumbaya in AntipoloANTIPOLO POLITICIANS.

Antipolo 2nd District Representative Romeo Acop, former interior secretary and congressman Ronaldo ‘Ronnie’ Puno, and Rizal Board Member Randy Puno. Photos from their Facebook pageswindow.rapplerAds.

displayAd( "middle-2" );window.rapplerAds.displayAd( "mobile-middle-2" );There is no major contest in Rizal’s capital for 2025.

Antipolo 2nd District Representative Romeo Acop has no obstructions in his path to reelection, while while former interior secretary Ronaldo “Ronnie” Puno, the inaugural congressman of the first district, is being challenged by only two opponents who have had no successful electoral bids in the past.Even Board Member Randy Puno, son of Deputy Speaker Roberto Puno, has no notable opponent for the vice mayoral race in Antipolo. More expected runaway victoriesNO STRONG CONTENDERS.

Clockwise, from top left: Angono Vice Mayor and mayoral aspirant Gerry Calderon, Cainta mayoral aspirant Kit Nieto, Rizal 2nd District Representative Dino Tanjuatco, and vice gubernatorial aspirant Josefina ‘Pining’ Gatlabayan. Photos from their Facebook pages, and websites of House, Cainta LGU, and Montalban LGUMore candidates in the province won’t need to mount huge campaigns, in the absence of opponents in their respective races, including Antipolo City Vice Mayor and vice gubernatorial aspirant Josefina “Pining” Gatlabayan, Rizal 2nd District Representative Dino Tanjuatco, Angono Vice Mayor and mayoral aspirant Gerry Calderon (who is switching places with his mayor-daughter), and Cainta mayoral aspirant Kit Nieto (who is retaking his old seat from his wife after he became term-limited in 2022). All are running under the banner of NPC.

Few possibly competitive racesThere are a few competitive races, but past election results indicate that the incumbents may have the advantage. RIZAL’S THIRD DISTRICT. Incumbent Jose Arturo ‘Jojo’ Garcia and former San Mateo mayor Jose Rafael Diaz.

Photos from Facebook, San Mateo LGUIn Rizal’s third district, Jose Arturo “Jojo” Garcia (NPC) is seeking reelection, but seeking to dethrone him is former San Mateo mayor Jose Rafael Diaz. Diaz, however, is coming from a 2022 mayoral election defeat, when he lost a two-way race by 20 percentage points. RIZAL’S FOURTH DISTRICT.

Incumbent Fidel Nograles and former Rodriguez (Montalban) mayor Dennis ‘Tom’ Hernandez. Photos from House, FacebookIn Rizal’s fourth district, Representative Fidel Nograles (Lakas) is seeking reelection, but will face a challenge from former Rodriguez (Montalban) mayor Dennis “Tom” Hernandez. The Hernandezes controlled the town from 2010 to 2022, although Dennis’ last election win was in 2019, and it was a close mayoral race that he won by only two percentage points.

Other notable mayoral races include:Rodriguez (Montalban): Mayor Ronnie Evangelista (NPC) has six opponents running as independents. He has the upper hand, but some of his challengers had impressive electoral performances in the past. Anecito “Nes” Lirazan was a community vendor who defeated the incumbent mayor from a dynasty for the vice mayoral race in 2019, but got obliterated in the 2022 mayoral race (receiving only a 0.

7% vote-share). Romy Grecia lost by only two percentage points for the mayoral race in 2019, but placed 23rd in the councilor election in 2022. Maria Carmela “Doc” Javier is an incumbent councilor.

Taytay: Incumbent Allan de Leon (NPC) heads to a rematch with former mayor George Ricardo “Joric” Gacula (Partido Federal), who lost the 2022 race to his rival by 13 percentage points.Tanay: Former mayor and incumbent mayor Rex Manuel “RM” Tanjuatco (NPC) seeks to return to his old post, succeeding his father. He will be challenged by former municipal disaster risk reduction and management officer Carlos Inofre Jr.

(Partido Federal), who is giving the mayoralty a second try after losing the race by 14 percentage points in 2022.San Mateo: The Diaz family has long ruled the town, but that came to an end in 2022, when Omie Rivera defeated then-vice mayor Jose Rafael Diaz. The Diazes now hope to reclaim control of the capitol, fielding Councilor Denzel Diaz (Akay) to unseat Rivera (Liberal Party).

Morong: Sidney Soriano and Jose Fred “Jon-jon” Feliciano ran and won as a tandem for mayor and vice mayor, respectively, in 2022, but the gloves are off in the midterms, as both politicians battle for control of the capitol.Pililla: Former It’s Showtime director Bobet Vidanes (Lakas), who is an incumbent councilor here and the topnotcher of his 2022 race, is gunning for the mayoralty. It’s going to be an interesting race, as his opponents include Vice Mayor Jaime Paz (NPC) and Mayor Dan Masinsin’s successor John Masinsin (Katipunan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino).

Masinsin’s party is chaired by former senator Bam Aquino.Cardona: Bernardo “Jun” San Juan unseated Totoy Campo in the 2022 mayoral race by seven percentage points. Campo (Partido Federal) is now seeking to settle the score with San Juan (NPC).

– Rappler.com.