By Rjay Zuriaga Castor
For the Tupas family of Iloilo’s 5th district, blood is not always thicker than water.
Niel “Junjun” Tupas Jr., who is running for 5th district representative, has endorsed the candidacy of Nathalie Ann “Lee Ann” Debuque for vice governor—his younger brother Raul’s rival.
This contradicts Niel’s earlier statement of supporting Raul’s candidacy, where he emphasized that family ties should outweigh political conflicts.
“What runs in my blood is Tupas. It’s been so long that I never voted for my brother because he is running against me. For the first time, he is running for a different position…. This is no longer politics—my vote will be for Raul,” he said when he filed his candidacy on Oct. 7.
As the eldest among the Tupas siblings, Niel stressed that he would take on the role of a “padre de pamilya” to show solidarity with his brother’s campaign.
Debuque announced on Feb. 12 that the Tupas family had officially endorsed her candidacy. She is also the running mate of reelectionist Governor Arthur Defensor Jr.
Niel, along with former Congressman Rolex Suplico and former Mayor Niel “Beng” Tupas III—both running for provincial board seats—raised Debuque’s hand in a symbolic gesture of support during a gathering at the Tupas ancestral home in Barotac Viejo.
“Wala ko gid ginlauman ang mainit nga suporta nga ginpakita sang mga lideres nga nagtipon sa panimalay sang nagtaliwan nga si Gov. Niel Tupas Sr. kag lola Myrna Causing Tupas sa banwa sang Barotac Viejo (I never expected the warm support shown by the leaders who gathered at the home of the late Gov. Niel Tupas Sr. and Grandma Myrna Causing Tupas in the town of Barotac Viejo),” she said.
Although the formal endorsement was only recently made, Niel has been actively involved in Debuque’s campaign since December.
Niel had also made public announcements to support his brother’s rival since last year.
Raul hurt by Niel’s endorsement
In a radio interview, Raul “Boboy” Tupas expressed his disappointment over his older brother’s move to endorse his rival at their family’s ancestral home.
“Siguro kon ara lang si Tatay, indi gid ni matabo (Maybe if our father were still here, this would not have happened),” he was quoted saying.
Raul acknowledged that while he and his brother remain on good terms despite supporting different political parties, he could not help but feel hurt by the endorsement.
“Daw masakit kon lantawon ta. Te imagine, didto pa gid dal-on sa inyo mismo balay nga gindak-an, balay nga madumduman ko pa gid—kanami sang amon relasyon antes, masadya, ga-ululupdanay samtang nagadaku kami (It’s painful to see. Imagine, bringing a political rival into the very home where we grew up together, where we shared happy memories. I still remember how close we all were, how we enjoyed each other’s company),” he added.
Cracks in the Clan
The Tupas family’s political dominance in Iloilo’s 5th district has lasted for almost 37 years, but internal conflicts have shaped its history.
It began with the late Niel Tupas Sr., who served as a congressman in a post-Marcos dictatorship before becoming Iloilo governor. After he moved to the provincial government, his nephew Rolex Suplico took over the congressional seat from 1998 to 2007.
The rivalry intensified when Niel, the eldest son, won the congressional seat in 2007, defeating Suplico. In 2010, Suplico attempted a comeback but lost to Niel. The family feud deepened after the death of Niel Sr. in 2015.
In 2016, Niel’s wife ran for Congress but was defeated by his younger brother, Raul, who had served as vice governor from 2013 to 2016. Niel and Raul then faced off in both the 2019 and 2022 elections, with Raul winning both times.
Now, in the 2025 elections, the rivalry has shifted to a new dynamic. Niel is running for Congress against his sister-in-law, Provincial Board Member Binky Tupas, the wife of Raul.
