Romarate family of Surigao del Norte

Tubod has been run by former three-term congressman Guillermo Romarate Jr. and his daughter Richelle, who swapped the mayor and vice mayor seats in 2025.

3 documented relatives · 1 currently in public office · 2 documented relationships · Province of Surigao del Norte

Open the interactive map →Tap any name to follow the connection and read the evidence behind it.

Who they are

Richelle Brandino Romarate

Tubod mayor (2026, per the provincial government) · elected vice mayor in 2025 · former Tubod mayor (to 2025)

In office

Sources: Rappler · 2025 results, Surigao del Norte; Comelec · 2025 Certified List of Candidates, Region XIII (per-town PDFs SURIGAODELNORTE_<TOWN>.pdf); MindaNews · Same old foes: Barbers vs Matugas in Surigao Norte polls (read via Wayback); Provincial Government of Surigao del Norte · Kapitolyo Serbisyo Caravan 2026 in Tubod, under Mayor Richelle Romarate

See Richelle Brandino Romarate in the map →

Guillermo Abitona Romarate Jr. “Jun”

Elected Tubod mayor in 2025 (the provincial government names Richelle Romarate as mayor in 2026) · former Representative, 2nd district (2007–2016) · former long-serving Tubod mayor

Sources: Rappler · 2025 results, Surigao del Norte; Comelec · 2025 Certified List of Candidates, Region XIII (per-town PDFs SURIGAODELNORTE_<TOWN>.pdf); MindaNews · Same old foes: Barbers vs Matugas in Surigao Norte polls (read via Wayback); MindaNews · Duterte on Surigao del Norte dynasty: "Puro Matugas na man ni tanan" (read via Wayback)

See Guillermo Abitona Romarate Jr. “Jun” in the map →

How they are related

• Guillermo Abitona Romarate Jr. “Jun” and Richelle Brandino Romarate — Father → daughterBloodEvidence: MindaNews · Same old foes: Barbers vs Matugas in Surigao Norte polls (read via Wayback) · “Tubod Mayor Richelle Romarate, daughter of former long-serving town mayor and three-term congressman Guillermo Romarate Jr., is seeking reelection under Barber’s Nationalista Party and Hugpong ng Pagbabago coalition.”
• Guillermo Abitona Romarate Jr. “Jun” and Myrna Romarate — SpousesMarriageEvidence: MindaNews · Same old foes: Barbers vs Matugas in Surigao Norte polls (read via Wayback) · “She will be pitted against Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Myrna Romarate, Guillermo’s second wife, who is running under Matugas’ Padajon Surigao PDP-Laban Cusi wing.”

How this was researched

Researched September 2026 against Comelec 2025 results. Every relationship is quoted from a published source; people who share a surname without a published statement of kinship are left out. Family relationships do not imply wrongdoing or political agreement.

Documented family networks; not a complete government or barangay roster. National offices are distinct from local offices.

Sources

1. Rappler · 2025 results, Surigao del Norte · 2025-05
2. Comelec · 2025 Certified List of Candidates, Region XIII (per-town PDFs SURIGAODELNORTE_<TOWN>.pdf) · 2025
3. MindaNews · Same old foes: Barbers vs Matugas in Surigao Norte polls (read via Wayback) · 2021-10-10
4. MindaNews · Duterte on Surigao del Norte dynasty: "Puro Matugas na man ni tanan" (read via Wayback) · 2021-11-08
5. Provincial Government of Surigao del Norte · Kapitolyo Serbisyo Caravan 2026 in Tubod, under Mayor Richelle Romarate · July 2026
6. MindaNews · Same old foes: Barbers vs Matugas in Surigao Norte polls (read via Wayback) · “Tubod Mayor Richelle Romarate, daughter of former long-serving town mayor and three-term congressman Guillermo Romarate Jr., is seeking reelection under Barber’s Nationalista Party and Hugpong ng Pagbabago coalition.” · 2021-10-10
7. MindaNews · Same old foes: Barbers vs Matugas in Surigao Norte polls (read via Wayback) · “She will be pitted against Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Myrna Romarate, Guillermo’s second wife, who is running under Matugas’ Padajon Surigao PDP-Laban Cusi wing.” · 2021-10-10

Other families documented in Surigao del Norte

• BarbersFormer senator Robert Z. Barbers, his mother (a former vice governor), his three sons and a daughter-in-law have held the governorship and the 2nd-district House seat for most years since 1992.
• MatugasSince 1992 the Siargao-based Matugas family has held the governorship, the 1st-district House seat, the Surigao City mayoralty and the mayoralties of Dapa, Del Carmen and General Luna.
• Gokiangkee (Claver)Former Claver Mayor George Gokiangkee and his wife Georgia Dy Gokiangkee, mayor again in 2025. In 2010 George’s brother Ricardo, who held no office, fielded his own wife, Rosemarie Mira Gokiangkee, against the family in the mayoral race.
• Esma (Alegria)Brothers Dominador "Yoyoy" Esma Jr. and Rene "Reneboy" Esma hold Alegria's mayor and vice mayor seats and swapped them in 2025.
• Mondano (Mainit)Husband and wife Ramon and Crisanta Mondano swapped Mainit's mayor and vice mayor seats in 2025.

All families and officials in Surigao del Norte →