By Erwin Bonifacio
The political history of Capiz during the American colonial period followed the political developments taking place across the Philippines. At first, the Partido Federal, a pro-American political party, dominated provincial politics. Later, new parties such as the Partido Modernista, Partido Nacionalista, Partido Democrata, and different factions of the Nacionalista Party competed for political power.
When the civil government was established in Capiz in 1901, Simplicio Jugo Vidal was appointed as the province’s first civil governor. He belonged to the Partido Federal, the first political party organized during the American period.
After serving as appointed governor, Jugo Vidal won the provincial election on February 3, 1902, becoming the first elected governor of Capiz. He was reelected on February 1, 1904, defeating Antonio V. Habana, who belonged to the Partido Modernista, a local political party founded by Jose C. Altavas. Although Habana lost the election, the Modernistas became the first organized political opposition to the Federalistas in Capiz.
The February 5, 1906 election brought a major political change. Antonio V. Habana of the Partido Modernista defeated Governor Simplicio Jugo Vidal of the Partido Federal, ending the Federalistas’ control of the provincial government.
Habana won another term in the November 5, 1907 election by defeating Ramon Hontiveros of the Partido Nacional Progresista.
By 1909, the Partido Modernista had merged with the Partido Nacionalista. Jose C. Altavas won the November 2, 1909 election by defeating Ramon Hontiveros of the Partido Nacional Progresista. Altavas was reelected on June 4, 1912, again defeating Hontiveros.
By 1916, a new national political party had gained strength in the province. The Partido Democrata became the principal rival of the Nacionalistas.
In the June 6, 1916 election, Simeon Mobo of the Partido Nacionalista was declared the winner. However, Jose M. Hontiveros of the Partido Democrata challenged the election results.
After a lengthy election protest, the Supreme Court ordered a recount. In December 1918, the Court declared Hontiveros the rightful winner. Mobo was removed from office, and Hontiveros assumed the governorship in 1919.
The June 3, 1919 election brought Manuel A. Roxas to the governorship. Running under the Partido Nacionalista, he defeated Conrado Barrios of the Partido Democrata.
Roxas served as governor until June 1922 before leaving the position to continue his political career at the national level.
While Roxas successfully ran for representative in the June 6, 1922 elections, the provincial election returned the Partido Democrata to power. Ramon S. Hontiveros, a cousin of Jose M. Hontiveros, defeated Rafael V. Acuña of the Partido Nacionalista Colectivista, one of the two factions formed after the split of the Nacionalista Party.
The Nacionalista Party had divided into the Colectivista and Unipersonalista factions before reuniting several years later.
In the June 2, 1925 election, Rafael V. Acuña defeated Ramon S. Hontiveros and became governor. He was reelected in 1928 and 1931 under the reunited Partido Nacionalista Consolidado.
As early as 1930, the political split between Senator Jose C. Altavas and his former political protégé, House Speaker Manuel A. Roxas, had become apparent. In 1931, Senator Altavas organized a local political party known as the Partido Nacionalista Guerra Patriotica.
At the national level, the dominance of the Nacionalista Party was also weakening because of disagreements over the Philippine independence missions to the United States. The conflict centered on the Osmeña–Roxas (Ox-Rox) Mission, which accepted the Hare–Hawes–Cutting Act, while Senate President Manuel L. Quezon and his supporters rejected the measure. The dispute divided the Nacionalista Party and reached its peak during the 1934 elections.
In the June 5, 1934 election, Gabriel K. Hernandez, running under the Partido Nacionalista Democrata Pro-Independencia (Pro), defeated Senator Jose C. Altavas, who was supported by the Partido Nacionalista Guerra Patriotica and the Partido Nacionalista Democratico (Anti).
Hernandez was reelected in the December 14, 1937 election after defeating Catalino Albar of the Partido Nacionalista Democratico (Anti).
By the December 10, 1940 election, the Nacionalista factions had reunited. Running under the unified Partido Nacionalista, Gabriel K. Hernandez defeated Candida Malaya Belo, the wife of Senator Antonio Belo. Hernandez became the last elected governor of Capiz before the Japanese occupation.
