The political rift between Himamaylan Vice Mayor Justin S. Gatuslao and Mayor Rogelio Raymund Tongson escalated as Gatuslao accused unknown individuals of damaging his campaign materials, while the Mayor’s supporters dismissed the incident as political drama.
Both sides called for a focus on safety and positive campaigning, yet the dispute continues to unfold in the lead-up to the 2025 elections.
On February 5, Gatuslao discovered that at least eight of his campaign posters were slashed along a national road. Although he did not directly identify the perpetrators, Gatuslao expressed concern that the individuals involved had allegedly roamed the city the previous night while armed with a “deadly weapon.”
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He said that the act could signal a dangerous escalation and stressed that the situation had shifted from politics to a public safety issue.
In contrast, Tongson responded on February 7, during a press conference, emphasizing that only the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) could assess the city’s peace and order situation.
He firmly said that neither his camp nor his cousin, Raymundo Tongson III—who is now his running mate—had any role in damaging Gatuslao’s materials, and reassured the public that Himamaylan remains both safe and on a path of progress.
No drama?
Tongson also urged all his allies, including independent candidates, to avoid unnecessary drama and to focus on positive campaigning.
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Supporters of Mayor Tongson labeled the incident as “drama” and suggested it might be part of a larger political strategy. Tongson, however, chose not to comment further, allowing the public to interpret the situation on their own.
Both sides have called for unity and safety leading up to the May 2025 elections, but the political divide between Gatuslao and Tongson has grown increasingly clear.
The rift became evident in October 2024 when they filed their certificates of candidacy (COC), marking the end of their once-strong TOGA tandem, which they formed in 2019.
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, contributes to Negros Daily Bulletin, and maintains a blog on Medium.