Barzaga mom’s win keeps dynasty intact

MANILA, Philippines — Incumbent Dasmariñas City Mayor Jennifer “Jenny” Barzaga won the congressional seat in Cavite’s fourth district by a landslide on Saturday, keeping the powerful Barzaga family in control of the city’s top elective posts.

The special election was called following the June 2 expulsion of Jennifer’s son, 27-year-old Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga, who had occupied the legislative seat since 2025.

Jennifer garnered 201,893 votes out of 258,371 ballots cast, according to the final results, overwhelming her nearest rival, former Vice Mayor Raul Rex Rosario Mangubat, who received 30,373 votes.

Former Councilor Jacinto Frani Jr. placed third with 24,350 votes, followed by Marvin Dupal-ag with 1,184 and Leysander Ordenes with 561.

READ: LOOK: Dasmariñas City holds special election to replace Kiko Barzaga

The turnout was 57.75 percent of the district’s 447,387 registered voters.

Comelec Chair George Garcia earlier projected a 60 to 65 percent voter turnout but later lowered it to 50 percent, as the southwest monsoon brought heavy rainfall across Cavite and other parts of the country.

Cavite’s fourth district was created in 2009 and consists entirely of Dasmariñas City.

READ: Ex-vice mayor Mangubat concedes Dasmariñas congressional race

26-year rule

Jennifer’s landslide win restores the family’s hold on the congressional seat vacated by Kiko, whose 11-month stint in the House ended with his expulsion on June 2 for “disruptive” and “disorderly” conduct.

The result also ensures that the congressional post which the Barzagas have controlled for much of the district’s existence remains within the family.

The victory extends the family’s political dominance in Dasmariñas to nearly three decades, beginning with Elpidio “Pidi” Barzaga Jr.’s election as mayor in 1998. He died in 2024 in the United States.

Pidi Barzaga served several terms as mayor before representing the city in Congress. His wife, Jennifer, succeeded him as mayor in 2007, later served as the district’s representative, and returned to the mayoralty in 2019. She was reelected in 2022 and 2025.

Now, she is headed back to Congress.

Vice Mayor Thirdy Barzaga, Jennifer’s son and Kiko’s brother, is expected to succeed her as mayor under the rules on local succession once she assumes the congressional post.

Mangubat conceded defeat on Saturday night even before the final count was completed.

At around 8:30 p.m., partial and unofficial results showed Barzaga leading with 185,668 votes against Mangubat’s 23,208.

“Democracy is not just about our right to choose. It is also about the humility to accept and respect the decision of the majority,” Mangubat said as he thanked his supporters. /cb