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Four Zaycos fall, including ex-governor Isidro ‘Pidio’ Zayco, losing to former allies turned rivals
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – For 30 years, the Zaycos were in power in Kabankalan City, taking turns holding the key offices. Theirs was a political machinery built on family, loyalty, and relentless campaign cycles, cycling power between brothers, nephews, and cousins.
But on May 12, in a single election, the dynasty collapsed in what many saw as one of the biggest political upsets in the province in recent years.
The fall was years in the making, but when it came, it was swift, and unforgiving.
Four Zaycos fell, including ex-governor Isidro “Pidio” Zayco, losing to a group of former allies turned rivals. Only one remained: Ann Marie Zayco, elected top councilor, a lone remnant of a family that once called the shots in Kabankalan.
Pidio, 82, lost his mayoral comeback bid with just 22,664 votes, finishing third behind former congressman Genaro “Lim-ao” Alvarez Jr. who received 22,821 votes and reelectionist Benjie Miranda, who secured a landslide victory with 43,082.
Pidio’s nephew, Vice Mayor Migz Zayco, failed in his reelection attempt, placing second with 29,207 votes behind Miranda’s wife, Divina Miranda, who garnered 37,582 votes.
Two other Zayco family members – Ali Zayco, daughter of Pidio’s brother Pedro, and Chad Zayco, another nephew – also lost. Ali placed third in the vice mayoral race with 11,163 votes, while Chad failed in his provincial board bid for the 6th District with 42,524 votes, trailing behind Ralph Alvarez who had 37,948 votes and leading vote-getter Jeffrey Tubola who won with 102,198.
The lone Zayco to win was Ann Marie, Ali’s sister, who topped the city council race with 27,894 votes.
The Zaycos had held sway over Kabankalan politics since 1992, starting with Pidio’s three terms as mayor. He later served as vice governor and then governor of Negros Occidental in 2008, following the death of governor Joseph Marañon.
Pedro and other family members also alternated in various elected positions through the years.
The dynasty suffered a blow in 2022 after Pedro lost his mayoral reelection bid to Benjie by a slim margin of 278 votes, a loss attributed to public dissatisfaction over his response to Super Typhoon Odette. Despite that, Migz won the vice mayoral race.
In a bid to reclaim power, Pidio and Migz ran in tandem against the Mirandas this year, but internal divisions and several Zaycos vying for posts apparently split their vote base.
Pidio publicly conceded on Facebook, calling the defeat his “first and last” in politics. Migz also issued a statement congratulating Divina and thanking constituents for his three-year stint as vice mayor.
Ann Marie, meanwhile, has not responded to Rappler’s request for comment.
The recently-concluded May 12 elections upended Kabankalan’s political order, bringing down a dynasty that had shaped local power in the Negros Occidental city for three decades. – Rappler.com
