End of an Era: Jalosjos Clan Loses Grip on Zamboanga del Norte
ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE, Philippines – The decades-long political reign of the Jalosjos family in this province appears to be crumbling, with initial results from the 2025 elections showing the clan losing key strongholds to allies of the Uy political family.
As of Monday, May 13, with 83% of precincts reporting, Dapitan City Mayor Bullet Jalosjos was trailing Darel Dexter Uy in the gubernatorial race—a stunning development in a province where the Jalosjos name once commanded unchallenged political sway.
Uy has 306,682 while Jalosjos trailed with 190, 894.
In the congressional contests, Kuya Jan Jalosjos and Cesar Jalosjos were also behind in their respective races for the 1st and 3rd districts, based on partial and unofficial results.
Kuya Jan polled 5, 738 only, which is far behind the frontrunner and incumbent Congressman Pinpin Uy. In the third congressional district, incumbent Congressman Ian Amatong triumphed with 102, 378 over Cesar’s 60, 186.
The clan’s matriarch, Inday Nene Jalosjos, suffered a high-profile loss in Dipolog City, where LAKAS-CMD candidate Berto Uy posted a commanding lead in the mayoral race with 41, 227 votes.
Over in Dapitan City, long considered the Jalosjos stronghold, Belen Uy of LAKAS-CMD clinched the mayoralty with 32, 147 votes, defeating Maita Jalosjos who only polled with 29, 050 votes. This marked another major upset for the once-dominant clan.
The apparent defeat of multiple Jalosjos family members across the province signals a seismic shift in Zamboanga del Norte’s political landscape. The string of losses points to a growing voter appetite for change and challenges the decades-old grip of a family dynasty now seemingly on the decline.
The political rivalry between the Jalosjos and Uy families in Zamboanga del Norte has been one of the most defining power struggles in the province’s recent history, pitting an entrenched political dynasty against an emerging local powerhouse.
The Jalosjos Dynasty
The Jalosjos family, led by patriarch and former Zamboanga del Norte 1st District Representative Romeo Jalosjos Sr., rose to prominence in the 1990s. Despite his conviction for rape in 1997, his political network endured and expanded, with various relatives occupying key positions across the province—governor, congressman, mayor, and even broadcaster roles through their media holdings. For years, the Jalosjoses controlled both Dapitan and Dipolog, solidifying their influence through patronage politics and regional alliances.
Rise of the Uy Family
The Uy family began building political influence in the 2010s, led by Roberto “Berto” Uy, who was elected governor in 2013. A former Dipolog mayor, Berto Uy positioned himself as a reform-oriented leader and cultivated support through the Liberal Party and later LAKAS-CMD. Under his administration, the Uy family challenged the Jalosjos’ hold on provincial power, expanding their own base from Dipolog to other municipalities.
The rivalry intensified when Berto Uy was re-elected in 2016 and 2019, disrupting the Jalosjos’ grip on the Capitol. In return, the Jalosjos clan fielded their strongest figures—like Bullet and Kuya Jan—to win back lost ground, including making a significant return during the 2022 elections.
A Province Divided
The battle for dominance often reflected broader political and economic divides in Zamboanga del Norte: urban vs. rural, old power vs. new leadership, and issues of governance, service delivery, and corruption.
Allegations of voter intimidation, red-tagging, and legal skirmishes—such as disqualification cases and protests before the Commission on Elections—have marred their contests.
2025: A Turning Point?
The 2025 elections may mark a significant turning point, with the Uy family seemingly consolidating control in both Dipolog and Dapitan, as well as the provincial Capitol, based on partial and unofficial results. For the Jalosjos family, once seemingly untouchable, the outcome may signal a steep decline in their political relevance.
This rivalry not only reshaped local power structures but also became a symbol of the shifting dynamics of provincial politics in the southern Philippines.
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