Eastern Samar · the governorship, Sulat since 1988 and Arteche since 2007
15 documented relatives · 10 currently in public office · 15 documented relationships · Province of Eastern Samar
In Eastern Samar the family currently holds office through Ralph Vincent “RV” Maniago Evardone (Eastern Samar governor (since 2025; 204,165 votes, 56.78%) · former Sulat councilor and ex officio provincial board member), Philip “PJ” C. Evardone Jr. (Eastern Samar board member, 1st district) and Virginia “Gigi” R. Zacate (Eastern Samar board member, 1st district (since 2025) · former Sulat mayor (2010–2019)).
Former Sulat mayor (1988–1992), the first Evardone elected to office · survived a 1990 recall petition dismissed by the Supreme Court · former National Printing Office director
Former Arteche vice mayor (re-elected unopposed 2022, served to 2025) and mayor (2007–2016), ending fifteen years of Pinangay rule · public health dentist
Reviewed 20 September 2026. Felipe Evardone was the first of the family elected, winning Sulat in 1988; the Supreme Court dismissed a 1990 recall petition against him as moot, and he served the full term. Sulat has been held by his brother Ben’s cousin Javier Zacate (2001–2010, again since 2019) and Javier’s wife Gigi (2010–2019). In Arteche, Ben’s second cousin Rolando Evardone took the town in 2007 after fifteen years of Pinangay rule, his son Bowad followed as mayor (2016–2025), and Susan Evardone holds it now with Bowad as her vice mayor. Ben was governor 2004–2010 and 2019–2025 and representative 2010–2019; his youngest son RV succeeded him as governor in 2025. Rappler’s 2025 race monitor calls Bowad a nephew of Ben, but Rappler’s own 2022 dynasty report twice gives the degree as second cousin for Bowad’s father Rolando, and Bowad himself calls Ben a “distant relative”, so no uncle–nephew line is drawn. Board Member Pearl Fatima Evardone, Sulat Councilor Lulu Evardone, 2001 Sulat councilor Frisco P. Evardone, 2022 Arteche councilor Antonio Baldago Evardone and Hernani candidate Gerry Evardone share the surname with no stated relationship, so none is drawn. Jipapad Mayor Benjamin Evardone Ver is called a relative by Rappler without a degree, and is shown that way. Reviewed again 21 September 2026. Middle names from the sources line up with the ties: Ben Pagaran Evardone, his son Ralph Vincent Maniago Evardone (Grace Maniago’s son), Javier Evardone Zacate and Benjamin Evardone Ver (both with Evardone mothers), Rolando Baldelobar Evardone and his son Roland Boie Mejica Evardone. Rappler’s 2025 monitor names Susan as Bowad’s mother, so she was presumably born a Mejica, and her 2025 opponent for mayor was Inday Mejica; no source states how the two are related, and no source calls Susan and Rolando husband and wife, so no spouse tie is drawn between them. RV is Ben’s youngest son; no older son is recorded in office. Rolando served as Arteche vice mayor after his mayoralty, re-elected unopposed in 2022. Board Member Pearl Fatima Evardone is a lawyer and founding partner of the PRESLAW firm who worked as a lawyer and consultant at the House of Representatives; her firm biography names no relatives. Kinship and office records are cited separately; neither establishes wrongdoing.
Documented family networks; not a complete government or barangay roster. National offices are distinct from local offices.
Libanan–Gonzales–KwanDeep audit 16 September 2026. Rep. Sheen Gonzales is married to Libanan’s daughter Eloisa; Libanan’s daughters Marian June (Taft mayor) and Sol Angeli (Taft councilor) and his wife Elda are documented separately. Kinna Mae Kwan is matched by name and town to the “Kinna Kwan” named as the mayor’s daughter in 2018. Ex officio Board Member Stella Maris Libanan, Oras Councilor Carlo Libanan and Board Member Mark Pol Gonzales share surnames without a stated relation.
NicartThe late Gov. Conrado Nicart Jr.’s widow Thelma and son Conrado III have traded San Policarpo’s mayoral and vice-mayoral posts since 2016.
SantiagoDeep audit 16 September 2026. Heraclio Santiago, mayor until 2025, topped the 2025 Maslog council race. Vice Mayor Zacarias C. Santiago shares the surname and middle initial without a stated relation.
CarpesoBrothers Zaldy and Shonny Niño Carpeso hold Dolores’ mayoral and vice-mayoral posts.
