ILOILO CITY – Iloilo Gov. Arthur “Toto” Defensor Jr. has picked young Mayor Nathalie Ann Debuque of Anilao town as his running-mate in the May 2025 elections.
Defensor, who is seeking a third and final term as governor, inducted Debuque into the ruling Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) where he is Visayas vice president.
ILOILO Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. (right) raises the hand of running mate Anilao Mayor Nathalie Ann Debuque. (Iloilo Capitol PIO)
“I will not let Gov. Defensor down. I will not let my province down,” said Debuque who is in her 30s.
Debuque said that she may be young but she has political experience. She is on her third and final term as mayor of Anilao where her mother Maria Theresa is the vice mayor.
Defensor’s announcement ended speculations that he will pick a candidate from any of the three major political clans of Iloilo, Garins of the first district, the Birons of the fourth district, and the Tupases of the fifth district.
Outgoing fifth district Rep. Raul “Boboy” Tupas said that he was hoping to be the governor’s running mate. Tupas was vice governor from 2013 to 2016.
Debuque is a close ally of fourth district Rep. Ferjenel “Ferj” Biron who lost to Defensor as governor in the 2019 elections.
Biron, who was present during the September 30 announcement, assured that his district is behind the candidacy of Defensor and Debuque.