Governor of Iloilo
The Governor of Iloilo is the local chief executive of the Philippine province of Iloilo. The governor holds office at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol located at Bonifacio Drive, Iloilo City. Like all local government heads in the Philippines, the governor is elected via popular vote, and may not be elected for a fourth consecutive term. In case of death, resignation or incapacity, the vice governor becomes the governor. Along with the governors of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras and Negros Occidental, he sits in the Regional Development Council of the Western Visayas Region.
The current governor is Arthur Defensor Jr. who took the seat for the first time starting July 1, 2019 replacing his father Arthur Defensor Sr. who completed the full three terms as provincial governor.
History
The first Alcalde-Mayor of Iloilo province to be appointed by the Spanish monarch was Diego de la Correa who held this position from 1634 - 1636. In the early years of Spanish settlement, only a handful of towns has been established. In 1565, the Legazpi expedition which include Mateo del Saz, the Maestre de Campo, Juan de la Isla and Father Martin de Rada exploring the islands in search for food reached the northeastern portion of Panay island. Father Martin de Rada founded Araut in the same year 1565 becoming the oldest town in Iloilo and built a small chapel there. A Spanish settlement was established in Ogtong and made the pueblo of the province in 1570. Due to the frequent raids of the Moro pirates from Mindanao, Dutch and English buccaneers posed a threat to Ogtong, the capital of the province was transferred to La Villa Rica de Arevalo in 1581. It then becomes the seat of Spanish government of the whole of Iloilo, Panay Negros, Guimaras, Cuyu-Palawan, Caluya, Romblon and Boracay as Miguel Loarca wrote. Other towns established at these period were Pototan, Sibucao and Dingle, Laglag, Salog, Guimbal, Miagao, Leon, Cabatuan, Alimodian, Igbaras, Janiuay, Tubungan, Santa Barbara and Maasin are among the first group of villages that were given a pueblo status.Provincial Capitol
The old Iloilo Provincial Capitol was the office of the provincial government and official residence of the governor since 1849 with the original structure made out of wood and stone. The new modern Iloilo Provincial Capitol was constructed just behind the old provincial capitol and was completed in 2006. It was designed by Architect Guillermo Hisancha. The old provincial capitol has been renovated and restored to its former glory and is now being used as a lobby and reception area for visiting guests and dignitaries. In front of the capitol stands the Arroyo Fountain built in 1928 in honor of Senator Jose Maria Arroyo from Molo, Iloilo City who sponsored a bill creating the Iloilo Metropolitan Water Works. The fountain also serves as the Kilometer Zero or a point of reference in measuring distances in the city and province of Iloilo and also to various points and destinations in Panay Island from Iloilo City.List of Governors
These are the lists of governors who served the province of Iloilo since the early Spanish settlement in the 1600s to the present day.Spanish Alcalde Mayores (Governors) of Iloilo Province
After the Spanish settlement was first established in 1570, towns were settled, established and were granted town hood status. By this time, the Spanish government appoints an alcalde mayor to govern the provincial government and surrounding jurisdictions.| Order | Year in Office | Name | Capital | Governor-General | Notes |
| 1 | 1634 - 1636 | Diego de la Correa | Arevalo | Juan Cerezo de Salamanca | |
| 2 | 1637 - 1639 | Pedro Alarcon | Arevalo | Sebastián Hurtado de Corcuera | |
| 3 | 1640 - 1642 | Pedro de Leon | Arevalo | Sebastián Hurtado de Corcuera | |
| 4 | 1643 - 1646 | Felipe Casiano | Arevalo | Sebastián Hurtado de Corcuera, Diego Fajardo Chacón | |
| 5 | 1647 - 1649 | Juan Mendoza | Arevalo | Diego Fajardo Chacón | |
| 6 | 1650 - 1653 | Felipe Peñalosa | Arevalo | Diego Fajardo Chacón | |
| 7 | 1654 - 1657 | Jose Cordero | Arevalo | Sabiniano Manrique de Lara | |
| 8 | 1658 - 1661 | Pedro Bobaella | Arevalo | Sabiniano Manrique de Lara | |
| 9 | 1662 - 1664 | Pedro Velasco | Arevalo | Sabiniano Manrique de Lara, Diego de Salcedo | |
| 10 | 1665 - 1666 | Jose Briones | Arevalo | Diego de Salcedo | |
| 11 | 1667 - 1668 | Sebastian de Villas | Arevalo | Diego de Salcedo, Juan Manuel de la Peña Bonifaz | |
| 12 | 1669 - 1670 | Jose de Robles | Arevalo | Juan Manuel de la Peña Bonifaz, Manuel de León | |
| 13 | 1671 - 1672 | Francisco Surrilla | Arevalo | Manuel de León | |
| 14 | 1673 - 1674 | Miguel Rendon | Arevalo | Manuel de León | |
| 15 | 1675 - 1676 | Alonzo Piralba | Arevalo | Manuel de León | |
| 16 | 1677 - 1678 | Nicolas de Pamplona | Arevalo | Manuel de León, Francisco Coloma y Maceda, Francisco Sotomayor y Mansilla, Juan de Vargas y Hurtado | |
| 17 | 1679 - 1680 | Miguel Rindon Livar | Arevalo | Juan de Vargas y Hurtado | |
| 18 | 1681 - 1682 | Juan de Moreno | Arevalo | Juan de Vargas y Hurtado | |
| 19 | 1683 - 1684 | Martin Gonzales | Arevalo | Juan de Vargas y Hurtado, Gabriel de Curuzealegui y Arriola | |
| 20 | 1685 - 1686 | Manuel Sarmiento | Arevalo | Gabriel de Curuzealegui y Arriola | |
| 21 | 1687 - 1688 | Nicolas Perez | Arevalo | Gabriel de Curuzealegui y Arriola | |
| 22 | 1689 - 1690 | Diego Quiñonez | Arevalo | Alonso de Avila Fuertes, Fausto Cruzat y Góngora | |
| 23 | 1691 | Sebastian de Via | Arevalo | Fausto Cruzat y Góngora | |
| 24 | 1691 - 1692 | Diego Vargas | Arevalo | Fausto Cruzat y Góngora | |
| 25 | 1694 - 1696 | Luis Camacho | Arevalo | Fausto Cruzat y Góngora | |
| 26 | 1697 - 1698 | Juan Carion | Arevalo | Fausto Cruzat y Góngora | |
| 27 | 1699 - 1700 | Juan Maldonado | Arevalo | Fausto Cruzat y Góngora | |
| 28 | 1701 - 1702 | Juan Parado | Iloilo City | Fausto Cruzat y Góngora, Domingo Zabálburu de Echevarri | |
| 29 | 1703 - 1704 | Antonio Tarosa | Iloilo City | Domingo Zabálburu de Echevarri | |
| 30 | 1705 - 1706 | Juan Esquera | Iloilo City | Domingo Zabálburu de Echevarri | |
| 31 | 1707 | Pedro Avendano | Iloilo City | Domingo Zabálburu de Echevarri | |
| 32 | 1708 - 1709 | Nicolas de Colina | Iloilo City | Domingo Zabálburu de Echevarri, Martín de Ursúa y Arizmendi, count of Lizárraga | |
| 33 | 1710 - 1711 | Juan Jurado | Iloilo City | Martín de Ursúa y Arizmendi, count of Lizárraga | |
| 34 | 1712 - 1713 | Gaspar Sanches | Iloilo City | Martín de Ursúa y Arizmendi, count of Lizárraga | |
| 35 | 1714 - 1715 | Atancio de Gubgura | Iloilo City | Martín de Ursúa y Arizmendi, count of Lizárraga,, José Torralba, | |
| 36 | 1716 - 1717 | Pedro Lucena | Iloilo City | José Torralba, Fernando Manuel de Bustillo Bustamante y Rueda | The town of New Lucena was named after him after he approved the petition of converting the barrio into a pueblo. The prefix "New" was added only in 1955. |
| 37 | 1718 - 1719 | Felipe Arevalo | Iloilo City | Fernando Manuel de Bustillo Bustamante y Rueda | |
| 38 | 1727 | Pedro Basadas Perez | Iloilo City | Toribio José Cosio y Campo | |
| 39 | 1728 - 1730 | Andres Melenday | Iloilo City | Toribio José Cosio y Campo, Fernándo Valdés y Tamon | |
| 40 | 1731- 1733 | Francisco Sanguines | Iloilo City | Fernándo Valdés y Tamon | |
| 41 | 1734 - 1737 | Luis de la Torre | Iloilo City | Fernándo Valdés y Tamon | |
| 42 | 1738 - 1739 | Felipe Espino | Iloilo City | Fernándo Valdés y Tamon, Gaspar de la Torre y Ayala | |
| 43 | 1740 - 1741 | Manuel de Dozal | Iloilo City | Gaspar de la Torre y Ayala | |
| 44 | 1742 - 1745 | Francisco Valladores | Iloilo City | Gaspar de la Torre y Ayala, Archbishop Juan de Arechederra | |
| 45 | 1746 - 1748 | Francisco Oscotes | Iloilo City | Archbishop Juan de Arechederra | |
| 46 | 1749 - 1751 | Ignacio Marquez | Iloilo City | Archbishop Juan de Arechederra, Francisco José de Ovando, 1st Marquis of Brindisi | |
| 47 | 1752 - 1754 | Antonio de Arguelles | Iloilo City | Francisco José de Ovando, 1st Marquis of Brindisi, Pedro Manuel de Arandía Santisteban | |
| 48 | 1770 - 1771 | Jose de Ocampo | Iloilo City | Simón de Anda y Salazar | |
| 49 | 1772 - 1773 | Manuel de Mendio | Iloilo City | Simón de Anda y Salazar | |
| 50 | 1775 - 1776 | Santiago Salavaria | Iloilo City | Simón de Anda y Salazar, Pedro de Sarrio | |
| 51 | 1777 - 1779 | Felipe Almoranas | Iloilo City | Simón de Anda y Salazar, Pedro de Sarrio, José Basco y Vargas | |
| 52 | 1780 - 1782 | Francisco Viera | Iloilo City | José Basco y Vargas | |
| 53 | 1783 - 1786 | Santiago Salavaria | Iloilo City | José Basco y Vargas | |
| 54 | 1787 | Juan Suarez | Iloilo City | José Basco y Vargas, Pedro de Sarrio | |
| 55 | 1788 - 1795 | Francisco Bayot | Iloilo City | Pedro de Sarrio, Félix Berenguer de Marquina, Rafael María de Aguilar y Ponce de León | |
| 56 | 1796 - 1801 | Jose Mijares | Iloilo City | Rafael María de Aguilar y Ponce de León | |
| 57 | 1802 - 1804 | Damian Novales | Iloilo City | Rafael María de Aguilar y Ponce de León | |
| 58 | 1805 - 1808 | Froilan Aguerre | Iloilo City | Rafael María de Aguilar y Ponce de León, Mariano Fernández de Folgueras | |
| 59 | - | - | Iloilo City | - | |
| 60 | 1818 - 1819 | Manuel Canay | Iloilo City | Mariano Fernández de Folgueras | |
| 61 | 1820 - 1822 | Miguel Calderon | Iloilo City | Mariano Fernández de Folgueras, Juan Antonio Martinez | |
| 62 | 1823 - 1825 | Joaquin Cemina | Iloilo City | Juan Antonio Martínez, Mariano Ricafort Palacín y Abarca | |
| 63 | 1826 - 1828 | Manuel Rodriguez | Iloilo City | Mariano Ricafort Palacín y Abarca | |
| 64 | 1829 - 1834 | Manuel Guillen | Iloilo City | Mariano Ricafort Palacín y Abarca, Pasqual Enrile y Alcedo | |
| 65 | 1835 - 1841 | Ambrosio del Callo | Iloilo City | Pasqual Enrile y Alcedo, Gabriel de Torres, Joaquín de Crame, Pedro Antonio Salazar Castillo y Varona, Andrés García Camba, Luis Lardizábal, Marcelino de Oraá Lecumberri | |
| 66 | 1846 - 1852 | Felipe Combe | Iloilo City | Narciso Clavería, Antonio María Blanco, Antonio de Urbistondo y Eguía | |
| 67 | 1853 - 1855 | Pedro Zarraga | Iloilo City | Antonio de Urbistondo y Eguía, Ramón Montero y Blandino, Manuel Pavía, 1st Marquis of Novaliches, Manuel Crespo y Cebrían | The town of Zarraga was named after him. |
| 68 | 1856 - 1860 | Miguel Arila | Iloilo City | Manuel Crespo y Cebrían, Ramón Montero y Blandino, Fernándo Norzagaray y Escudero, Ramón María Solano y Llanderal, Juan Herrera Dávila | |
| 69 | 1861 | Emilio Carles | Iloilo City | Juan Herrera Dávila, José Lemery e Ibarrola Ney y González | |
| 70 | 1862 - 1867 | Jose Maria Carles | Iloilo City | José Lemery e Ibarrola Ney y González, Salvador Valdés, Rafaél de Echagüe y Bermingham, Joaquín del Solar e Ibáñez, Juan de Lara e Irigoyen, José Laureano de Sanz y Posse, Juan Antonio Osorio, José de la Gándara y Navarro | The town of Carles was named after him when he approved the petition of the town leaders of Barrio Badiang converting it into a pueblo. |
| 71 | 1868 | Anastacio de la Peña | Iloilo City | José de la Gándara y Navarro | |
| 72 | 1868 - 1869 | Manuel Iznart | Iloilo City | José de la Gándara y Navarro, Manuel Maldonado, Carlos María de la Torre y Navacerrada | A street in Iloilo City was named after him as a former alcalde mayor of Iloilo |
| 73 | 1870 | Eduardo Caballero | Iloilo City | Carlos María de la Torre y Navacerrada | |
| 74 | 1871 | Fernando Rojas | Iloilo City | Carlos María de la Torre y Navacerrada, Rafael Izquierdo y Gutiérrez | |
| 75 | 1872 - 1879 | Enrique Fajardo | Iloilo City | Rafael Izquierdo y Gutiérrez, Manuel MacCrohon, Juan Alaminos y Vivar, Manuel Blanco Valderrama, José Malcampo y Monje, Domingo Moriones y Murillo | |
| 76 | 1880 - 1881 | Camilo Millan | Iloilo City | Rafael Rodríguez Arias, Fernando Primo de Rivera, 1st Marquis of Estella | |
| 77 | 1882 - 1883 | Miguel Aguilar | Iloilo City | Fernando Primo de Rivera, 1st Marquis of Estella, Emilio Molíns, 1st term, Joaquín Jovellar | |
| 78 | 1884 | Luis Zariaga | Iloilo City | Joaquín Jovellar | |
| 79 | 1885 | Luis Pratt | Iloilo City | Joaquín Jovellar, Emilio Molíns, 1st term, , Emilio Terrero y Perinat | |
| 80 | 1889 | Pedro Montero | Iloilo City | Valeriano Wéyler | |
| 81 | 1890 | Miguel Blanco | Iloilo City | Valeriano Wéyler | |
| 82 | 1891 | Nicolas Jaramillo | Iloilo City | Valeriano Wéyler, Eulogio Despujol | |
| 83 | 1892 | Jose Gramaren | Iloilo City | Eulogio Despujol | |
| 84 | 1892 - 1896 | Francisco de Castilla | Iloilo City | Eulogio Despujol, Federico Ochando , Ramón Blanco, 1st Marquess of Peña Plata, Camilo de Polavieja, 1st Marquis of Polavieja, | |
| 85 | 1896 - 1898 | Salvador Viana | Iloilo City | Ramón Blanco, 1st Marquess of Peña Plata, Camilo de Polavieja, 1st Marquis of Polavieja, José de Lachambre, Fernando Primo de Rivera, 1st Marquis of Estella, Basilio Augustín, Fermín Jáudenes, Francisco Rizzo, Diego de los Ríos, | |
| 86 | 1898 | Ricardo Monet | Iloilo City | Fernando Primo de Rivera, 1st Marquis of Estella, Basilio Augustín, Fermín Jáudenes, Francisco Rizzo, Diego de los Ríos, |
American Commonwealth Period Civil Governors
As the last Spanish politico-military governor of Iloilo province, Ricardo Monet who served during the last remaining months of 1898 appointed Martin Delgado as captain and commander of the 125-strong voluntarios in Sta. Barbara.On August 13, 1898, the United States had already bought Manila, Philippines and agreed to spare Iloilo to Spain. Negotiations between the United States and Spain was finished. They made a mock drama on May 10, 1898 that an American vessel will fire a Spanish ship on Manila Bay then they will surrender to America not to a loose platoon of Emilio Aguinaldo in Intramuros. The Americans occupied Manila and raised their flag in Intramuros. Spain's dream is to establish a Spanish kingdom in Iloilo its loyal and devoted province and totally relinquish its right in the entire Philippines.
Gen. Pablo Araneta appointed Martin Delgado as "General en Jefe de los Tropas del Ejercito Libertador de Visayas y Governador Politico-Militar". On October 28, 1898, Delgado marched into Santa Barbara and took control of the municipal building.
Meanwhile, Spanish governor-general Diego de los Ríos left Manila and sailed to Iloilo and established the last Spanish capital in the Orient in Iloilo City. General de los Rios asked Spain to grant some reforms demanded by the representative citizens of Iloilo. He issued in Iloilo a proclamation to the people of the Visayas calling on them to establish a "Council of Reforms" to be made up of 24 leading citizens, 12 of whom would be selected by popular vote, another 12 to be appointed by the general himself.
General de los Rios was obviously sincere in bringing about the reforms people asked for. The granted reforms, however, satisfied only a few ilustrado leaders. Things did not turn out the way it should be. There was widespread oppositions of their offer. The flame of rebellion already swept Iloilo towns, Panay and Negros under Comite Conspirador. Their swift decision is to forego more battle and to peacefully grant sovereignty to Iloilo and to vacate the place and let Americans finished the job. If Ilonggos would have remained loyal to Spain, it would have not encountered the canons of the Americans.
On February 6, 1901, several days after the passage of the Municipal Code, the Philippine Commission passed the Act No. 83 or the Provincial Government Act. It states that every province shall have elected provincial governor. Election is also to be held to also elect a provincial secretary, a provincial treasurer, a provincial supervisor and a provincial fiscal.
On February 2, 1901 during the fiesta celebration of Jaro, General Delgado weary of war and poorly armed formally surrendered in Jaro to the American military governor Edmund Rice. Many of the rebel leaders surrendered.
He was recognized by the Americans as "the ablest leader" on the island. Delgado was appointed as the first governor of Iloilo province upon the establishment of the civil government on April 11, 1901. Jovito Yusay was given the provincial government secretary with a yearly stipend of $1,800 gold. Quintin Salas and his Chief of Staff. Lt. Col. Francisco Jalandoni were the last to lay down their arms on October 4, 1901.Here are the governors of the province during the American Commonwealth Period.
| Order | Term Of Office | Portrait | Name | Origin | Governor-General | Notes |
| 87 | 1901 - 1904 | Martin Teofilo Delgado | Sta. Barbara | Arthur MacArthur Jr., Adna Chaffee, William Howard Taft, Luke Edward Wright | The first civil governor of Iloilo being appointed by virtue of Provincial Government Act by the Philippine Commission | |
| 88 | 1904 - 1906 | Raymundo Melliza | Molo | Luke Edward Wright, Henry Clay Ide, James Francis Smith | The only Filipino who served as magistrate in the Supreme Court of Cuba. A schoolmate and dear friend of Jose Rizal, he was the one who persuaded Rizal to serve as military doctor in the Spanish-American War in Cuba | |
| 89 | 1906 - 1908 | Benito Lopez | Jaro | Henry Clay Ide, James Francis Smith | He was the first Ilonggo civil governor to be assassinated while in office. He was literally shot in his office at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol. | |
| 90 | 1908 - 1912 | Ruperto Montinola | Jaro | James Francis Smith, William Cameron Forbes | ||
| 91 | 1912 - 1913 | Adriano Hernández | Dingle | James Francis Smith, William Cameron Forbes, Newton W. Gilbert, Francis Burton Harrison | ||
| 92 | 1914 - 1916 | Amado Avanceña | Molo | Francis Burton Harrison | ||
| 93 | 1917 - 1922 | Gregorio Yulo | Molo | Francis Burton Harrison, Newton W. Gilbert, Leonard Wood | ||
| 94 | 1922 - 1925 | Ruperto Montinola | Jaro | Leonard Wood | ||
| 95 | 1925 - 1927 | Jose Ledesma | Jaro | Leonard Wood, Eugene Allen Gilmore, Henry L. Stimson | ||
| 96 | 1927 - 1928 | Jose Lopez-Vito | Jaro | Henry L. Stimson, Eugene Allen Gilmore | Appointed governor | |
| 97 | 1928 - 1929 | Mariano Pidal Arroyo | Molo | Henry L. Stimson, Eugene Allen Gilmore | ||
| 98 | 1929 - 1931 | Alejo Aquino | Jaro | Eugene Allen Gilmore, Dwight F. Davis | ||
| 99 | 1931 - 1934 | Jose Regalado Yulo | Molo | Dwight F. Davis, George C. Butte, Theodore Roosevelt Jr., Frank Murphy | ||
| 100 | 1934 - 1937 | Timoteo Y. Consing, Sr. | Molo | Frank Murphy, Paul V. McNutt | Appointed governor | |
| 101 | 1938 - 1941 | Tomás Confesor | Cabatuan | Paul V. McNutt, Francis Bowes Sayre Sr. | ||
| 102 | 1941 - 1942 | Oscar Ledesma | Jaro | Francis Bowes Sayre Sr. |
World War II Governors
These were the provincial governors of Iloilo during the dark years of World War II.Post War - Present Governors
These are the governors of the province after the war up to the present.| Order | Term Of Office | Portrait | Name | Origin | Vice-Governor | President | Notes |
| 105 | 1945 | Patricio Confesor | Cabatuan | José P. Laurel, Sergio Osmeña | |||
| 106 | 1945 | Jose Ledesma | Jaro | José P. Laurel, Sergio Osmeña | |||
| 107 | 1946 - 1948 | Tomas Vargas | Janiuay | Manuel Roxas | |||
| 108 | 1948 - 1959 | Mariano Peñaflorida | Pototan | Manuel Roxas, Elpidio Quirino, Ramon Magsaysay, Carlos P. Garcia | |||
| 109 | 1960 - 1963 | José Zulueta | Molo | Guardalino Mosqueda Elected | Carlos P. Garcia, Diosdado Macapagal | ||
| 110 | 1964 - 1969 | Rafael Palmares | Passi | Conrado Norada Elected Re-Elected Fortunato Padilla Succeeded | Diosdado Macapagal, Ferdinand Marcos | ||
| 111 | 1969 - 1986 | Conrado Norada | Miagao | Fortunato Padilla Succeeded Ramon Duremdes Elected PD 826 Elected | Ferdinand Marcos | ||
| 112 | 1986 - 1987 | Licurgo Tirador | Pototan | Carlos Lopez Jr. Appointed Simplicio Griño Appointed | Corazon Aquino | Appointed governor | |
| 113 | 1987 - 1992 | Simplicio Griño | Oton | Ramon Lopez Jr. Appointed Ramon Duremdes Elected Robert Maroma Acting Capacity | Corazon Aquino | ||
| 113 | 1992 | Feliciano Marañon | Leganes | Ramon Duremdes Elected | Corazon Aquino | Acting Capacity | |
| 114 | 1992 - 2001 | Arthur Defensor Sr. | Mina | Robert Maroma Elected Demetrio Sonza Elected Re-Elected | Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada | ||
| 115 | 2001 - 2010 | Niel Tupas Sr. | Ajuy | Roberto Armada Elected Re-Elected Rolex Suplico Elected | Gloria Macapagal Arroyo | ||
| 116 | 2010 - 2019 | Arthur Defensor Sr. | Mina | Oscar Richard Garin Jr. Elected Raul Tupas Elected Christine Garin Elected | Benigno Aquino III, Rodrigo Duterte | ||
| 117 | 2019 - present | Arthur Defensor Jr. | Mina | Christine Garin Re-Elected | Rodrigo Duterte |