Tomas Joson III
{{Short description|Filipino politician (1948–2020)}}
{{more citations needed|date=August 2019}}
{{Philippine name|Noriel|Joson}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Tomas Joson III
| image = Tomas Joson III - Nueva Ecija Provincial Capitol Palayan City.jpeg
| imagesize =
| smallimage =
| caption = Tomas Joson's III portrait at the Nueva Ecija Provincial Capitol, Palayan City
| order = 27th
| office = Governor of Nueva Ecija
| term_start = June 30, 1998
| term_end = June 30, 2007
| term_start2 = June 30, 1992
| term_end2 = June 30, 1995
| predecessor = Eduardo Nonato Joson
| successor = Aurelio Umali
| predecessor2 = Narciso S. Nario Sr.
| successor2 = Eduardo Nonato Joson
| birth_name = Tomas Noriel Joson
| birth_date = {{birth date|1948|5|10}}
| birth_place = Santo Domingo, Nueva Ecija, Philippines
| death_date = {{death date and age|2020|7|23|1948|05|10|mf=y}}
| death_place = Cabanatuan, Philippines
| nationality = Filipino
| party =
| relations =
| children = 5
| residence =
| alma_mater = San Beda College of Law
| occupation = Lawyer, Businessman, Politician
| signature =
| spouse = Mary Ann Filart Joson
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
Tomas Noriel Joson III (May 10, 1948 – July 23, 2020) was a Filipino politician. He served as a Governor of Nueva Ecija, Philippines for one term from 1992 to 1995, and was re-elected for another three terms from 1998 to 2007.
In 2019, Joson was found guilty of three counts of graft over donated vehicles to the towns of Quezon and Bongabon in 2007, and sentenced to between six and ten years' imprisonment for each count.{{Cite web|url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/05/19/ex-ecija-governor-mayors-found-guilty-of-graft-over-vehicle-donations|title=Ex-Ecija governor, mayors found guilty of graft over vehicle donations|first=Adrian|last=Ayalin|website=ABS-CBN News}}
In 2020, Joson was acquitted.{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}}
Life
=Early life=
"Tommy", the eldest son of Eduardo Joson of Quezon, Nueva Ecija, a former guerilla officer who later served as provincial governor, and Araceli Noriel, was born on May 10, 1948, in Santo Domingo.{{cite web |url=https://www.oocities.org/lppsec/govs/joson.html |title=Personal Profile of Gov. Tomas N. Joson |publisher=Oocities |access-date=June 21, 2023}}
He studied at Quezon Elementary School and San Beda College in his early years. He later finished Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Economics in the University of the Philippines.
He worked as private secretary in the governor's office in the 1970s.
=Political career=
He was a member of the provincial board since 1980 and became vice governor. He served as provincial governor, first in acting capacity (1989–1990), and later being elected (1992–1995, 1998–2007).
Tomas III, then senior board member, took his oath as acting governor on December 19, 1989, as vice governor Narciso Nario "waived his right" to assume that position. Nario had taken over as acting governor pursuant to the Local Government Code (Batas Pambansa Blg. 337) when governor Eduardo took a sick leave on December 7, temporarily vacating his office.
On December 23, Tomas took his oath of office as vice governor. A day prior, Nario voluntarily resigned due to his health concerns, only to withdraw it eleven days later as his condition turned out to be not serious. Tomas' functions were ordered discontinued on January 3, 1990, by Local Government Secretary Luis Santos who, considered Nario as the vice governor, designated him again as acting governor.
The Cabanatuan Regional Trial Court later decided in favor of Santos and Nario, which would be affirmed by the Supreme Court in July.{{cite web |url=https://lawphil.net/judjuris/juri1990/jul1990/gr_91548_1990.html |title=G.R. No. 91548 |date=July 13, 1990 |website=The LawPhil Project |publisher=Arellano Law Foundation |access-date=June 20, 2023}} Later that year, Tomas III eventually became vice governor following the death of his father which was succeeded then by Nario.{{cite news |last=Galang |first=Armand |date=May 27, 2007 |title=The Joson dynasty loses the capitol after 50 years |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gk1aAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Tomas+Joson+III%22&pg=PA2&article_id=2408,11902333 |newspaper=The Manila Times |access-date=June 11, 2023 |pages=A1, A2 |via=Google Books}}
As governor, he initiated the "Nueva Ecija 2000", supporting programs including on agriculture through establishing a provincial fruits and vegetable seed center.
During his term, the Nueva Ecija Federation of Dairy Carabao Cooperatives was established, which boosted the province's dairy industry and helped to address malnutrition.
He implemented backyard tilapia production.
In his last years in office, he transferred the provincial seat of government to Palayan wherein infrastructures were constructed including a sports complex, a provincial convention center, and a college named in his father's memory.
Joson was defeated in Cabanatuan mayoralty election in 2007.{{cite news |last=Anacleto |first=Liam |date=May 20, 2007 |title=Joson clan's charm loses luster in N. Ecija politics |url=http://northphiltimes.blogspot.com/2007/05/joson-clans-charm-loses-luster-in-n.html?m=1 |work=Northern Philippine Times |access-date=June 6, 2023}}{{cite news |date=May 18, 2007 |title=The good fights: Pineda leads in Pampanga; Espinosas trail in Masbate |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=elQ1AAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Tomas+Joson+III%22&pg=PA20&article_id=1640,7756412 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |access-date=June 11, 2023 |pages=A1, A19 |via=Google Books}}{{cite news |date=May 20, 2007 |title=Old fiefdoms going as Valeras, Josons tumble |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fFQ1AAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Eduardo+Joson%22&pg=PA20&article_id=1883,8755048 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |access-date=June 9, 2023 |pages=A1, A20 |via=Google Books}}
Joson was the chairperson of his family's Bagong Lakas ng Nueva Ecija (Balane) when he nominated former fourth district representative Rodolfo Antonino as the party's candidate in the 2016 gubernatorial elections;{{cite news |last=Galvez |first=Manny |date=October 19, 2015 |title=Josons not fielding kin for Nueva Ecija top post |url=https://www.philstar.com/nation/2015/10/19/1512565/josons-not-fielding-kin-nueva-ecija-top-post/ |work=The Philippine Star |access-date=June 6, 2023}} the family decided to support the latter's candidacy as they did not join for the first time in 56 years.{{cite news |date=October 20, 2015 |title=Josons skip Nueva Ecija guv race, will field ally instead |url=https://southluzon.politics.com.ph/2015/10/20/josons-skip-nueva-ecija-guv-race-will-field-ally-instead/ |work=Politiko (South Luzon) |access-date=June 6, 2023}}
=Controversies=
Tomas III, his younger brother Mariano Cristino, and two others were implicated in an alleged raid in a provincial jail in April 1990 wherein a prison guard who is a Constabulary enlisted man was killed in a shootout between the two, along with their bodyguards, and Quibuyen family members. Though the Josons were charged with the death, no arrest warrant was issued.{{cite news |last=Branigin |first=William |date=December 25, 1990 |title=A deadly brand of politics |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1990/12/25/a-deadly-brand-of-politics/d30fb505-a3f4-4fcc-aecb-5149d748859e/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=June 21, 2023}}{{cite news |last=Nuñez |first=Johnny |date=December 5, 1990 |title=Josons denounce haste in filing murder raps |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jq8VAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Tomas+Joson+III%22&pg=PA154&article_id=4970,896061 |newspaper=Manila Standard |access-date=June 11, 2023 |page=9 |via=Google Books}}
The two were charged as principal suspects in the ambush of Tomas' gubernatorial rival, then Cabanatuan mayor Honorato Perez Sr. of the administration's Lakas–NUCD, who was shot dead along with his bodyguard in Talavera on April 22, 1995.{{cite news |last1=Evangelista |first1=Romy |last2=Dizon |first2=Romy |date=April 24, 1995 |title=Double murder raps filed vs Josons |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wowmAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Eduardo+Joson%22&pg=PA31&article_id=6618,2918946 |newspaper=Manila Standard |access-date=June 10, 2023 |page=3 |via=Google Books}} They were detained since then along with other co-accused.{{efn|Also accused were their 13 bodyguards consisting of twelve policemen and a marine soldier. Other reports stated seven{{cite news |last=Giray |first=Celso |date=March 30, 1998 |title=Kin, supporters of late mayor still crying for justice |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9pYVAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Tomas+Joson+III%22&pg=PA16&article_id=3497,3279536 |newspaper=Manila Standard |access-date=June 11, 2023 |page=16 |via=Google Books}} and twelve.}}
Tomas III and Mariano Cristino ("Boyet"), then mayor of Quezon, both re-electionists under Balane–Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino–Nationalist People's Coalition, later withdrew their candidacies. Their brother, former first district representative Eduardo Nonato ("Edno") who is then seeking for his return, substituted for Tomas III and defeated Perez's widow; another, Eduardo, replaced Boyet. On the other hand, Josie replaced Edno in the congressional elections.{{cite news |last1=Villanueva |first1=Marichu |last2=Evangelista |first2=Romie |last3=Rosales |first3=Angie |date=May 6, 1995 |title=Ecija situation probe sought |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=55kVAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Eduardo+Joson%22&pg=PA58&article_id=3745,874906 |newspaper=Manila Standard |access-date=June 10, 2023 |page=2 |via=Google Books}}
The Supreme Court ordered the transfer of the case (from Talavera RTC Branch 88{{cite news |last1=Jacinto |first1=Gerry |last2=Lanuza |first2=Angelo |date=April 27, 1995 |title=Josons hit 'illegal' arrests |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xIwmAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Eduardo+Joson%22&pg=PA3&article_id=5723,3358643 |newspaper=Manila Standard |access-date=June 10, 2023 |page=3 |via=Google Books}} to Pasig RTC Branch 166) and their detention (from provincial police headquarters in Cabanatuan to police custodial facility at Camp Crame in Quezon City). In 1998, while in detention, Tomas III and Mariano Cristino ran and were elected governor,{{cite news |last=Bernal |first=Buena |date=May 14, 2013 |title=Pol rivalry in Comelec-controlled Nueva Ecija |url=https://www.rappler.com/nation/elections/28852-nueva-ecija-early-result-governor/ |work=Rappler |access-date=June 11, 2023}} against Perez's widow,{{cite news |last=Giray |first=Celso |date=March 20, 1998 |title=Nueva Ecija politics: Late mayor Honorato Perez's wife faces ex-Gov. Tomas Joson in gubernatorial race |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7JYVAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Tomas+Joson+III%22&pg=PA16&article_id=2277,2209162 |newspaper=Manila Standard |access-date=June 11, 2023 |page=17 |via=Google Books}} and Quezon mayor respectively.{{cite news |last=Giray |first=Celso |date=March 26, 1998 |title=Nueva Ecija has now acting vice governor |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8pYVAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Tomas+Joson+III%22&pg=PA16&article_id=3250,2839725 |newspaper=Manila Standard |access-date=June 11, 2023 |page=16 |via=Google Books}}{{cite news |date=May 23, 2001 |title=Poll winners: Same names, same families |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4aU2AAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Eduardo+Joson%22&pg=PA17&article_id=2418,46805818 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |access-date=June 9, 2023 |page=A17 |via=Google Books}} In 1999, the court dismissed the murder charges against all accused{{cite news |date=May 12, 2007 |title=After a century, political clan still rules |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dFQ1AAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Eduardo+Joson%22&pg=PA22&article_id=2682,4532259 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |access-date=June 9, 2023 |pages=A1, A22 |via=Google Books}} for lack of evidence. Tomas III would be re-elected twice; Mariano Cristino, only once.
In April 2018, the Supreme Court decided to exclude Tomas III from liability in relation to alleged irregular award of ₱155 million to a private contractor for the construction of a hotel in the province. The case originated from the findings of the Commission on Audit in 2007 on selected transactions of the provincial government from 2004 to 2007.{{cite web |url=https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocs/1/63583 |title=G.R. No. 223762 |date=November 7, 2017 |website=Supreme Court E-Library |publisher=Supreme Court of the Philippines |access-date=June 20, 2023}}{{cite news |date=April 9, 2018 |title=Supreme Court junks case vs ex-Gov. Joson over anomalous hotel construction |url=https://centralluzon.politics.com.ph/supreme-court-junks-case-vs-ex-gov-joson-over-anomalous-hotel-construction/ |work=Politiko (Central Luzon) |access-date=June 20, 2023}}
In July 2019, Tomas III, as well as former mayors of Quezon (his nephew, Eduardo Basilio) and Bongabon, were convicted by the Sandiganbayan of three counts of graft and was to serve at least 18 years in jail, in relation to his donation of service vehicles to these municipalities in 2007, which found violated the Local Government Code.{{cite news |last=Nonato |first=Vince |date=June 25, 2017 |title=Joson seeks permission to file demurrer on graft case |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/908544/joson-seeks-permission-to-file-demurrer-on-graft-case |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |access-date=June 21, 2023}}{{cite news |last=Panti |first=Llanesca |date=August 5, 2019 |title=Ex-Nueva Ecija governor, 2 others get six to ten years over vehicle donations |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/703551/ex-nueva-ecija-governor-4-others-get-six-to-ten-years-over-vehicle-donations/story/ |work=GMA News Online |access-date=June 21, 2023}} In early 2020, the court's Special 7th Division, granting their appeal, voted to reverse the decision.{{cite news |date=March 1, 2020 |title=Ex-Nueva Ecija governor Tomas Joson's graft conviction reversed |url=https://www.rappler.com/nation/253094-ex-nueva-ecija-governor-tomas-joson-graft-conviction-reversed/ |work=Rappler |access-date=June 11, 2023}}
=Personal life and death=
He married Mary Ann Filart; they had five sons.
His eldest son, Edward Thomas, was a provincial board member prior to becoming provincial vice governor (ran under Balane–KAMPI coalition) in 2007. He was elected again to the provincial board, representing third district, in 2016{{cite web |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/eleksyon2016/results/local/region+iii/nueva+ecija/ |title=Eleksyon 2016: Local results from Nueva Ecija |date=2016 |website=GMA News Online |access-date=June 19, 2023}} He was defeated twice by Aurelio Umali, in 2001 congressional elections in the third district{{cite news |last=Galvez |first=Manny |date=July 11, 2010 |title=Ecija politicians join hands in tourism drive |url=https://www.philstar.com/nation/2010/07/11/591774/ecija-politicians-join-hands-tourism-drive/ |work=The Philippine Star |access-date=June 6, 2023}} and 2010 gubernatorial elections;{{cite news |last=Galvez |first=Manny |date=May 20, 2010 |title=Umali, Padiernos top Nueva Ecija polls |url=https://www.philstar.com/nation/2010/05/20/576337/umali-padiernos-top-nueva-ecija-polls/ |work=The Philippine Star |access-date=June 6, 2023}} as well as twice by Anthony, brother of Aurelio, in his attempts to regain vice governorship in 2019 and in 2022 elections.{{cite news |last=Galang |first=Armand |date=October 4, 2021 |title=Sibling rivalry in NE: Joson vs. Joson in hometown of Quezon |url=https://punto.com.ph/sibling-rivalry-in-ne-joson-vs-joson-in-hometown-of-quezon/ |work=Punto! Central Luzon |access-date=June 6, 2023}}{{cite news |last=Cajucom |first=Celso |date=October 4, 2021 |title=Josons seek to regain rule in Nueva Ecija |url=https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/10/04/news/regions/josons-seek-to-regain-rule-in-nueva-ecija/1817059 |work=The Manila Times |access-date=June 6, 2023}}Local results from Nueva Ecija:
- {{cite web |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/eleksyon2019/results/local/REGION+III/NUEVA+ECIJA/ |title=Eleksyon 2019 |date=2019 |website=GMA News Online |access-date=June 19, 2023}}
- {{cite web |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/eleksyon2022/results/local/REGION+III/NUEVA+ECIJA/ |title=Eleksyon 2022 |date=2022 |website=GMA News Online |access-date=June 19, 2023}}
Joson died on July 23, 2020, aged 72.{{cite news |last=Galang |first=Armand |date=July 24, 2020 |title=Head of Ecija's most known pol clan, Tomas Joson III, dies at 72 |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1311594/head-of-ecijas-most-known-pol-clan-tomas-joson-iii-dies-at-72/ |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |access-date=July 25, 2020}}{{cite news |last=Galang |first=Marilyn |date=July 24, 2020 |title=Novo Ecijanos mourn death of former Gov. Joson |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1109978 |work=Philippine News Agency |access-date=June 6, 2023}} He was later interred at Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina.
Gallery
File:Tomas_Joson_mausoleum1.jpg|Joson III mausoleum
File:Tomas_Joson_mausoleum3.jpg|Loyola Memorial Park tomb
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://lga.gov.ph/province/info/nueva-ecija/ Province of Nueva Ecija]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Joson, Tomas III}}
Category:Governors of Nueva Ecija
Category:Filipino Roman Catholics
Category:People from Cabanatuan
Category:People from Nueva Ecija
Category:20th-century Filipino lawyers
Category:San Beda University alumni
Category:Partido Demokratiko Pilipino politicians
Category:Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines