2025 Taguig local elections explained

Election Name:2025 Taguig local elections
Previous Election:2022 Taguig local elections
Previous Year:2022
Next Election:2028 Taguig local elections
Next Year:2028
Country:Taguig
Type:presidential
Ongoing:yes
Module:
Embed:yes
Election Name:Mayoral election
Type:presidential
Ongoing:yes
Mayor
Alliance Name:no
Candidate1:Lani Cayetano
Party1:Nacionalista Party
Alliance1:TLC
Running Mate1:Arvin Ian Alit
Candidate2:Arnel Cerafica
Party2:Partido Federal ng Pilipinas
Alliance2:Team AMC
Running Mate2:Janelle Cerafica
Before Election:Lani Cayetano
Before Party:Nacionalista Party
Module:
Embed:yes
Election Name:Vice mayoral election
Type:presidential
Ongoing:yes
Vice Mayor
Before Election:Arvin Alit
Before Party:Nacionalista Party
Module:
Embed:yes
Election Name:City Council election
Type:parliamentary
Ongoing:yes
Alliance Name:no
Seats For Election:24 of 26 seats in the Taguig City Council
Majority Seats:13
Party1:Nacionalista Party
Alliance1:TLC
Last Election1:16 seats, 69.03%

Local elections are scheduled to be held in Taguig on May 12, 2025, as part of the 2025 Philippine general election. The electorate will elect a mayor, a vice mayor, twenty-four members of the Taguig City Council, and two district representatives to the House of Representatives of the Philippines. The officials elected in the election will assume their respective offices on June 30, 2025, for a three-year-long term.

This will be the first general election in which the Embo barangays are part of the Taguig city electorate.

Background

See also: Makati–Taguig boundary dispute. On April 3, 2023, the Supreme Court of the Philippines denied the motion of reconsideration filed by Makati to override its earlier ruling that upheld the 2011 Pasig Regional Trial Court ruling that recognized Taguig's jurisdiction over the ten Embo barangays, resulting in Makati formally ceding control of the barangays to Taguig.[1] The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) began the administrative transfer of the 212,613 Embo voters and electoral precincts from Makati to Taguig in August 2023, ahead of the 2023 Philippine barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (BSKE) elections, where Embo residents voted as residents of Taguig for the first time.[2] [3]

In the Embo barangays, the 2023 BSKE elections resulted in widespread defeat for candidates affiliated with the ruling Cayetano family. Following the election, 140 barangay officials from the Embo area took their oath at the Makati City Hall, affirming their loyalty to Makati.[4] Joey Salgado of Rappler opined that the aftermath of the barangay elections indicated a competitive local race in Taguig in 2025, owing to the popularity of the Binay family in the populous Embo barangays.[5]

Representation of the Embo barangays

For the 2025 general election, the Embo residents will elect local officials for Taguig for the first time.[6] While Embo voters will be represented in the city council, the COMELEC ruled that they will be effectively left without representation in the House of Representatives until the barangays are drawn in a legislative district of Taguig through law.[7] [8] Makati Mayor Abigail Binay panned the ruling as an injustice, deeming it a "denial of democracy".[9] [10]

The Taguig City Council planned to pass an ordinance to divide the ten Embo barangays between the two existing councilor districts for the council and increase the elected members per district.[11] Committee hearings on the ordinance began on September 14, 2024; the drafted ordinance formally drew the barangays into the two councilor districts and sought an increase of four elected members per district, creating a total of 12 elected councilors per district and 24 overall.[12] Subsequently, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano introduced Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 23 which the chamber adopted on September 23, followed by the House of Representatives adopting House Concurrent Resolution No. 37 on September 25.[13] These proposals, based on Taguig City Council's Ordinance No. 144, would add barangays Comembo, Pembo, and Rizal to the 1st district and barangays Cembo, East Rembo, Pitogo, Post Proper Northside, Post Proper Southside, South Cembo, and West Rembo to the 2nd district.[14]

Ultimately, COMELEC issued Resolution No. 11069, adopting Taguig City's Ordinance No. 144 and the joint resolution of the houses of Congress.[15] Dante Tiñga, former House representative from Taguig–Pateros, then questioned the Taguig City's Ordinance No. 144 to the Supreme Court, arguing that the city council had no authority to increase the number of seats, but rather that power belonged to Congress by passing a statute, and not a resolution.[16]

Candidates

Candidates in italics indicate incumbents seeking reelection.[17] [18]

Administration coalition

TLC (Team Lani Cayetano)
Positionwidth=150pxName !Party
Mayor1.Lani Cayetano
Vice mayor1.Arvin Ian Alit
House representative from the 1st district3.Ading Cruz Jr.
House representative from the 2nd district1.Jorge Daniel Bocobo
Councilor from the 1st district2.Kim Abbang
4.Raul Aquino
9.Allan Paul Cruz
11.Sammy Cruz
16.Darwin Icay
18.Jimmy Labampa
21.Totong Mañosca
22.Rodil Marcelino
23.Carlito Ogalinola
25.Fanella Joy Panga-Cruz
26.Gamaliel San Pedro
28.Ferdinand Santos
Councilor from the 2nd district6.Marisse Balina-Eron
8.Edgar Baptista
9.Gigi Bermas-Villasis
14.Danilo Castro
18.Iony De Lara-Bes
20.Ivie Dizon
24.Gen Pautin
25.Alex Penolio
27.Ed Prado
31.Jomil Bryan Serna
32.Nicky Supan
36.Bing Villamor

Primary opposition coalition

Team AMC
PositionName Party
Mayor2.Arnel Cerafica
Vice mayor2.Janelle Cerafica
House representative from the 1st district2.Allan Cerafica
House representative from the 2nd District3.Pammy Zamora
Councilor from the 1st district5.Mark Emerson Bacsain
6.John John Bautista
8.RJ Bernal
10.Norjannah Cruz
14.Warren Delos Santos
15.Rolando Gonzales
17.Tristan Inan
19.Paul Lontoc
20.Elvira Madrid
27.Joshua Narc Sanga
29.Maria Ana Santos
30.Gerard Sumagpao
Councilor from the 2nd district1.Benedicto Abatay
2.Jude Acepcion
3.Joel Advincula
7.Marilou Bandejas
10.Angielyn Bombase
12.Lylani Calvadores
21.Armando Ercillo
22.Arthur Flores
26.Basilio Pooten
28.Ignacio Rivera Jr.
29.Glenn Sacay
35.Gary Lester Valdez

Other candidates

Positionwidth=150pxName !Party
Mayor3.Brigido Licudine
Vice mayor3.Nelly Tanglao
House representative from the 1st district1.Lino Cayetano
4.Pedro dela Cruz
5.Ricardo Opoc
House representative from the 2nd district2.Noe Manila
Councilor from the 1st district1.Romeo Edgar Abaigar
3.Johnny Alvarida
6.Mark Bryan Beran
12.Reinante Dela Paz
13.Girlie Delos Santos
24.Rico Palma
31.Henry Vera
Councilor from the 2nd district4.Juanito Aggalut
5.Abraham Anuncacion
11.Rosaldo Paolo Cabrera VIII
13.Isidro Capurcos
15.Arthur Clavo
16.Edgardo Daria
17.Cosmiano De Asis
19.Cupid Demafiles
23.Persilita Magallano
30.Rodolfo San Pedro Jr.
33.Jerry Tan
34.Caleb Tibio
37.Salvador Zamora III

Mayoral election

The incumbent mayor is Lani Cayetano, who has served since 2022 and previously held the post from 2010 to 2019, after being elected with 75.77% of the vote. She is eligible for reelection to a second consecutive term.

Abigail Binay, the term-limited mayor of Makati, has expressed interest in running for the mayoralty of Taguig.[19] To seek the office, Binay would need to resign as mayor of Makati to establish at least one year of residency in Taguig to be eligible for the post.[20] On January 9, 2024, Binay remarked that she is "waiting for a sign" for her to push through with her campaign in Taguig; she indicated that she would finalize her decision by March 2024.[21] [22] Manuel L. Quezon III of the Philippine Daily Inquirer described Binay's potential campaign for mayor of Taguig as a "dynastic invasion" motivated by Makati's loss of the Embo barangays.[23] Since her announcement, Binay has not resigned her post, making a mayoral bid less likely as she is instead being considered as a senatorial bet by the administration coalition.[24] It was later confirmed that she will run for senator in 2025 when she was named to the senatorial slate of Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas.[25]

Meanwhile, political strategist Lito Banayo revealed that former mayor Lino Cayetano, brother-in-law of the incumbent, may challenge for the mayor's seat after reportedly getting the backing of two important factions in local politics: the Zamora family (including second district representative Pammy Zamora, daughter of former San Juan representative Ronaldo Zamora) and the Tiñga family (including former mayor Sigfrido Tiñga), potentially forming an alliance between a Cayetano and several of their political enemies.[26] However, the former mayor announced that he is not running for mayor in his Facebook post, but is still undecided if he would run for another local position. He instead chose to run for first district representative, against his sister-in-law's preferred candidate.

Instead, former first district representative Arnel Cerafica, now backed by the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, challenged to represent the local opposition, including from the Embo barangays, in the mayoral election. This is his third bid to be elected mayor, having lost to the incumbent in 2022 and to Lino Cayetano in 2019.[27]

Candidates

Declined

Polling

Abby Binay vs. Lani Cayetano

Results

Vice mayoral election

The incumbent vice mayor is Arvin Alit, who has served since 2022 after being elected with 68.81% of the vote. He is eligible to run for his second consecutive term.

Candidates

Results

City Council election

The Taguig City Council is currently composed of 18 members, 16 of which are elected through plurality block voting to serve three-year terms. The councilors represent the city's two councilor districts, which consist of Taguig barangays coextensive with the congressional districts, with eight members being elected per district.

After COMELEC's en banc resolution, which added the Embo barangays to the city council districts, the council will now have 26 members, 24 of which are to be elected between the two districts of the city, adding four new seats to each district.

First district

The first city council district is composed of the city's eastern barangays, namely Bagumbayan, Bambang, Calzada, Hagonoy, Ibayo-Tipas, Ligid-Tipas, Lower Bicutan, New Lower Bicutan, Napindan, Palingon, San Miguel, Santa Ana, Tuktukan, Ususan and Wawa. City Ordinance No. 144 passed by the city council, as adopted by COMELEC Resolution No. 11069, added the Embo barangays Comembo, Pembo, and Rizal to the district. The last election saw the administration coalition sweep the district, getting all eight seats.

Term-limited councilors

Results

Second district

The second city council district is composed of the city's western barangays, namely Central Bicutan, Central Signal Village, Fort Bonifacio, Katuparan, Maharlika Village, North Daang Hari, North Signal Village, Pinagsama, South Daang Hari, South Signal Village, Tanyag, Upper Bicutan and Western Bicutan. City Ordinance No. 144 passed by the city council, as adopted by COMELEC Resolution No. 11069, added the Embo barangays Cembo, East Rembo, Pitogo, Post Proper Northside, Post Proper Southside, South Cembo, and West Rembo to the district. The last election saw the administration coalition sweep the district, getting all eight seats.

Term-limited councilors

Results

House of Representatives elections

Coinciding with the local elections, two representatives from the districts the city shares with Pateros will be elected to represent the city and the municipality in the House of Representatives in the 20th Congress.

First district

The first district encompasses the entirety of Pateros and Taguig's eastern barangays of Bagumbayan, Bambang, Calzada, Hagonoy, Ibayo-Tipas, Ligid-Tipas, Lower Bicutan, New Lower Bicutan, Napindan, Palingon, San Miguel, Santa Ana, Tuktukan, Ususan and Wawa. City Ordinance No. 144 passed by the city council, as adopted by COMELEC Resolution No. 11069, added the Embo barangays Comembo, Pembo, and Rizal to the district.

On October 30, 2024, the Comelec rejected the transfer of residency to the district by Lino Cayetano after the filing of certificates of candidacy have ended, but the poll body noted that the former mayor can still avail of legal remedies, and speculation about his disqualification is "premature".[34]

The incumbent representative is Ricardo Cruz Jr., an ally of the incumbent city administration, who was elected in 2022 with 58.25% of the vote.

Candidates

Results

Second district

The second district encompasses Taguig's western barangays of Central Bicutan, Central Signal Village, Fort Bonifacio, Katuparan, Maharlika Village, North Daang Hari, North Signal Village, Pinagsama, South Daang Hari, South Signal Village, Tanyag, Upper Bicutan and Western Bicutan. City Ordinance No. 144 passed by the city council, as adopted by COMELEC Resolution No. 11069, added the Embo barangays Cembo, East Rembo, Pitogo, Post Proper Northside, Post Proper Southside, South Cembo, and West Rembo to the district.

The incumbent representative is Pammy Zamora, who was elected in 2022 with 68.75% of the vote. She was previously allied with the incumbent city administration until 2024, when she switched from the Nacionalista Party to Lakas-CMD.

Candidates

Results

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hicap . Jonathan . 2023-04-03 . Taguig LGU lauds SC decision over Fort Bonifacio ownership . April 3, 2023 . Manila Bulletin . en . 2023-04-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230403174625/https://mb.com.ph/2023/4/3/taguig-lgu-lauds-sc-decision-over-fort-bonifacio-ownership . live .
  2. News: August 21, 2023 . Comelec: 10 EMBO barangays now part of Taguig for BSKE . Philstar.com . January 9, 2024 . August 28, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230828001309/https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/08/21/2290319/comelec-10-embo-barangays-now-part-taguig-bske . live .
  3. News: Mangaluz . Jean . October 30, 2023 . 'Embo' residents find no difference in voting under Taguig city's control . INQUIRER.net . January 9, 2024 . January 9, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240109194049/https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1852665/embo-residents-find-no-difference-in-voting-under-taguig-citys-control . live .
  4. Web site: Cruz . James Patrick . 2023-11-25 . Loyalty check? Newly-elected EMBO barangay officials take oath before Makati Mayor Binay . 2024-08-03 . RAPPLER . en-US . 2024-02-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240229193812/https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/inside-track/loyalty-check-newly-elected-embo-barangay-officials-take-oath-before-mayor-binay-november-2023/ . live .
  5. News: Salgado . Joey . November 22, 2023 . [OPINION] Political terrain in Taguig has shifted ]. Rappler . January 9, 2024 . January 9, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240109195656/https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/opinion-political-terrain-taguig-shift-cayetano-binay/ . live .
  6. News: Casucian . Jiselle Anne . June 25, 2024 . 'COMELEC: EMBO barangays cannot vote for a congressman in 2025 . GMA News Online.
  7. Web site: Cruz . James Patrick . 2024-06-25 . Why EMBO residents cannot vote for a congressman in 2025 elections . 2024-07-13 . RAPPLER . en-US.
  8. News: Terrado . Jose Marco . July 31, 2023 . What Taguig stands to gain (and potentially lose) . UP sa Halalan . January 9, 2024 . January 9, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240109195657/https://halalan.up.edu.ph/what-taguig-stands-to-gain-and-potentially-lose/ . live .
  9. Web site: Cabato . Luisa . 2024-06-26 . Makati mayor hits Comelec ruling on House bet for 'embo' barangays . 2024-08-03 . INQUIRER.net . en . 2024-07-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240703193218/https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1955121/fwd-binay-on-embo-barangays . live .
  10. News: 2024-06-24 . Abby Binay slams Comelec's 'suppression' of EMBO voters, asks Taguig to act . . 2024-08-03 . 2024-06-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240627004548/https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/6/26/abby-binay-slams-comelec-s-suppression-of-embo-voters-asks-taguig-to-act-1221 . live .
  11. News: Torres . Sherrie Anne . June 28, 2024 . Comelec releases resolution listing 10 EMBO barangays to Taguig City . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240704114922/https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/6/28/comelec-releases-resolution-listing-10-embo-barangays-to-taguig-city-1922 . July 4, 2024 . August 3, 2024 . ABS-CBN News.
  12. News: September 23, 2024 . Cayetano bats for EMBOs' voting rights in 2025 local elections. Senate of the Philippines . September 23, 2024.
  13. Web site: Ferreras . Vince Angelo . September 25, 2024 . House adopts resolution preventing the disenfranchisement of 'EMBO' voters . September 25, 2024 . GMA News Online . en .
  14. September 23, 2024 . Cayetano bats for EMBOs' voting rights in 2025 local elections . September 23, 2024 . Senate of the Philippines . en.
  15. News: Sampang . Dianne. September 26, 2024 . Comelec adopts Taguig ordinance on Embo barangays. September 27, 2024 . Philippine Daily Inquirer . en.
  16. Web site: Bautista . Jane . 2024-10-28 . Tiñga questions increase in Taguig council seats at SC . 2024-11-08 . Inquirer.net . en.
  17. News: Hicap . Jonathan . October 10, 2024 . Comelec releases list of candidates for mayor, vice mayor, councilor in Taguig for May 2025 polls . October 11, 2024 . Manila Bulletin.
  18. News: Lalu . Gabriel Pabico . October 9, 2024 . LIST: Aspirants for House seats in NCR; know the unopposed bets. October 11, 2024 . Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  19. Web site: Magsambol . Bonz . 2024-05-11 . [WATCH] Is it Binay vs Binay again in Makati in 2025? ]. 2024-08-03 . RAPPLER . en-US . 2024-06-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240625130813/https://www.rappler.com/philippines/video-binay-vs-binay-makati-polls-2025/ . live .
  20. Web site: Bautista . Nillicent . Abby waiting for 'sign' on Taguig mayoral run . 2024-08-03 . Philstar.com . 2024-08-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240803010916/https://www.philstar.com/nation/2024/01/11/2324876/abby-waiting-sign-taguig-mayoral-run . live .
  21. Web site: Bautista . Nillicent . Abby to decide on Taguig mayoral run by March . 2024-08-03 . Philstar.com.
  22. Web site: Legaspi . Zeus . 2024-01-25 . Possible Taguig mayoral bid not a walk in the park — Abby Binay . 2024-08-03 . INQUIRER.net . en . 2024-03-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240317070921/https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1894502/mayor-binay-on-running-in-taguig-not-a-walk-in-the-park . live .
  23. News: Quezon . Manuel L. III . August 16, 2023 . Retribution by election . January 19, 2024 . Philippine Daily Inquirer . January 9, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240109202703/https://opinion.inquirer.net/165590/retribution-by-election . live .
  24. News: Domingo . Katrina . NPC eyes Abby Binay, Lapid, Sotto as senatorial bets in 2025 elections . September 21, 2024 . . May 18, 2024 . May 18, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240518154121/https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/5/18/npc-eyes-abby-binay-lapid-sotto-as-senatorial-bets-in-2025-elections-2238 . live .
  25. News: Gita-Carlos . Ruth Abbey . September 26, 2024 . PBBM bares admin's 2025 senatorial slate . September 26, 2024 . Philippine News Agency . en-US.
  26. News: September 16, 2024 . Yanig sa Taguig! Lino Cayetano reportedly secures backing of Ronnie Zamora, Freddie Tinga in challenging Lani's seat . September 21, 2024 . Politiko.
  27. News: Hicap . Jonathan . August 15, 2024 . Ex-congressman Cerafica to challenge Cayetano for mayor of Taguig anew . August 30, 2024 . Manila Bulletin.
  28. News: Hicap . Jonathan . October 7, 2024 . Taguig Mayor Cayetano files COC for second term, presents her partymates . October 7, 2024 . Manila Bulletin.
  29. News: Victoria . Vera . October 9, 2024 . Three Candidates Vying for Mayor and Three for Vice Mayor in Taguig City . October 9, 2024 . Taguig.com.
  30. News: Lelis . Brix . January 10, 2024 . Binay eyes run for Taguig mayor . January 19, 2024 . The Manila Times . January 13, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240113041244/https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/01/10/news/binay-eyes-run-for-taguig-mayor/1927371 . live .
  31. Web site: "Do Not Fight the Ones Who Should Not Be Fighting," Says Former Taguig Mayor Lino Cayetano. August 21, 2024. August 30, 2024. taguig.com.
  32. Web site: Mayayanig Taguig? Abby Binay Meets With Cayetano Nemesis Freddie Tinga. January 6, 2024. January 19, 2024. Politiko. January 9, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240109200602/https://politiko.com.ph/2024/01/06/mayayanig-taguig-abby-binay-meets-with-cayetano-nemesis-freddie-tinga/snitch-network/. live.
  33. Web site: 2024-03-04 . "BOSES NG BAYAN" 2025 ELECTIONS: TAGUIG CITY MAYOR . 2024-05-05 . RP- Mission and Development Foundation Inc. . Facebook . 2024-05-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240505103757/https://www.facebook.com/RPMDofficial/posts/pfbid02wmcmEeCt1SBemMpRpT7n5gThMxcJVzQxoXiwm4CLgTQuWkgXgKtDBgfQ9eMrFGGUl . live .
  34. Web site: Mendoza. John Eric. Comelec rejects residency transfer bid of ex-Taguig mayor Lino Cayetano. October 30, 2024. October 31, 2024. Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  35. Web site: Lino Cayetano Ready To Bring Fresh Solutions To Taguig Problems. October 3, 2024. October 7, 2024. Politiko.