Jun Gato
Ciriaco Gato | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Official portrait, 2026 | |
| Member of the Philippine House of Representatives | |
| In office June 30, 2019 – September 21, 2026 | |
| Preceded by | Henedina Abad |
| Succeeded by | TBD |
| Constituency | Batanes (at-large) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ciriaco Bayaras Gato Jr. November 16, 1959 Sabtang, Batanes, Philippines |
| Died | September 21, 2026 (aged 66) Manila, Philippines |
| Party | NPC |
| Spouse | Jade Bañez |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | UP Manila (MD) |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Doctor |
Ciriaco "Jun" Bayaras Gato Jr. (November 16, 1959 – September 21, 2026) was a Filipino physician and politician who served as the representative for Batanes's at-large congressional district for the Philippine House of Representatives from 2019 until his death in 2026. He ran for the Nationalist People's Coalition party.
Early life and career
[edit]Gato was born in Sabtang, Batanes, on November 16, 1959, to Ciriaco Sr., a retired government employee from Itbayat, and Felisa Elcano, a retired teacher from Basco. His family had politicians: Simon Gato, his father's cousin, and Vicente Gato, his second cousin, both governors of Batanes. He was raised in Itbayat, where he completed his elementary and high school.[1] He gained a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of the East before graduating as a Doctor of Medicine at the University of the Philippines College of Medicine in 1984.[2][3][4] Prior to his political career, he was an ear, nose, and throat specialist for 30 years, partaking in medical missions by himself or with a group in Basco.[5][1]
Political career
[edit]Elections
[edit]Gato decided to run for office due to patients being airlifted to Manila or Tuguegarao due to the lack of medical supplies in Batanes, a scarce supply of water, food shortages, transport issues, and garbage and sewage problems, seeking to fix these issues.[1] He ran for the lone congressional district of Batanes under the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC).[6] Gato, with 3,367 votes, narrowly beat former Representative and Budget Secretary Butch Abad of the Liberal Party (LP) and Carlo Diasnes of the National Unity Party with 3,129 and 3,032 votes, respectively, winning the election.[6][7] He described his win as a "gift from god" and a surprise with his "low-key campaign", further stating "Hard work always pays off, and when you have this genuine intention to serve and help the people, you can make it."[1] Gato ran for a second term in the 2022 elections under the NPC. He won with 3,872 votes (33.92% of the votes), beating Luis Abad of LP, Ronald Aguto Jr. of Partido para sa Demokratikong Reporma, and Diasnes of Lakas-CMD, with 3,037 (26.61%), 2,484 (21.76%), and 2,022 (17.71%) votes respectively.[8] He ran for a third term in the 2025 elections also under the NPC. He won with 7,380 votes, beating his sole opponent, Malou Cayco of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, who gained 3,785 votes.[9]
Positions and laws
[edit]Gato served as the chairperson of the Philippine House Committee on Health and vice chairperson of the Special Committee on the North Luzon Growth Quadrangle. He also served as a member of the committees of Civil Service and Professional Regulation, Disaster Resilience, and Higher and Technical Education.[4] He helped author the Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines Act or Republic Act 12290 that established a national research center set on virus, pathogens, and vaccine development studies and Republic Act 11472 which added 350 beds to the CARAGA Regional Hospital in Surigao City.[4][10] He opposed territorial claims made in China over Batanes and supported bills that allowed the use of medical cannabis for some ailments.[11]
Personal life and death
[edit]Gato was married to Jade Bañez and they had two children,[2] Dr. Patricia Gato Suzaro and Atty. Georgina Mia Gato.[4]
He died from a heart attack in Manila while being taken to a hospital on September 21, 2026, at the age of 66.[11][5][2] His wake was held in Quezon City from September 22 to 26. His interment is scheduled in Muntinlupa on September 27.[12]
On September 23, House Resolution 1470 by Speaker Bojie Dy, Majority Leader Sandro Marcos, and Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan honored Gato and his life, profession, and public service to the Ivatans, reading, "The passing of Honorable Ciriaco ‘Jun’ B. Gato Jr. is not merely a loss of a public servant, but a loss of a beloved son of the Province of Batanes who devoted his life, his profession, and his public service to the welfare of his fellow Ivatans."[4] Dy expressed his condolences to Gato's family, stating, "On behalf of the entire House of Representatives, I extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Congressman Ciriaco Gato." Commission on Elections Chairman Erwin Garcia said that a special election would be held from November 20 to December 20 to fill the vacant Batanes congressional seat.[13] Basco Cathedral rector priest Fr. Rolando Berber Manabat asked citizens to pray for Gato while Deputy Speaker Yevgeny Emano, who was presiding a House session debating the proposed 2027 national budget, called on members to stand up and pray for Gato.[11]
Electoral history
[edit]| Year | Office | Party | Votes received | Result | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | % | P. | Swing | |||||
| 2019 | Representative (Batanes) | NPC | 3,367 | 35.34% | 1st | N/a | Won | |
| 2022 | 3,872 | 33.92% | 1st | −1.42 | Won | |||
| 2025 | 7,380 | 66.10% | 1st | +32.18 | Won | |||
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 Alcantara, Nathan (June 8, 2019). "Newbie politico a physician seeking to cure Batanes' ailments". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 21, 2026.
- 1 2 3 Visaya Jr., Villamor (September 21, 2026). "Batanes Rep. Ciriaco Gato Jr. dies at 66". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 21, 2026.
- ↑ "UP alumni winners in the 2025 Midterm Elections". University of the Philippines. June 11, 2025. Retrieved September 21, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Begas, Billy (September 23, 2026). "Beloved son of Batanes: House honors late Rep Jun Gato for life of service, healthcare advocacy". Politiko. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- 1 2 De Leon, Dwight (September 21, 2026). "Batanes congressman Ciriaco Gato Jr. dies". Rappler. Retrieved September 21, 2026.
- 1 2 "Local Results – Batanes". GMA News Online. May 22, 2019. Retrieved September 22, 2026.
- ↑ Fonbuena, Carmela (May 15, 2019). "Butch Abad loses congressional bid in Batanes". Rappler. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
- ↑ "2022 Election Results: Batanes". Rappler. May 13, 2022. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- ↑ "Results: Batanes election 2025". Rappler. May 12, 2025. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- ↑ "President Marcos signs law creating Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines". Presidential Communications Office. September 19, 2025. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- 1 2 3 Lalu, Gabriel Pabico (September 22, 2026). "Dy: Batanes Rep. Ciriaco Gato brought caring doctor's perspective to House". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 22, 2026.
- ↑ Antalan, Mary (September 21, 2026). "Batanes Rep. Ciriaco Gato Jr. dies at 63". DZRH. Retrieved September 22, 2026.
- ↑ Jadormio, Mary Jade; Cruz, Jovee Marie N. de la (September 22, 2026). "Comelec to hold special polls for vacant Batanes congressional seat". BusinessMirror. Retrieved September 23, 2026.