Wikipedia

Manuel Mamba

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Noveno and the surname or paternal family name is Mamba.

Manuel Noveno Mamba Sr. (born August 19, 1958) is a Filipino doctor and politician who is serving as provincial governor of Cagayan since 2016. He was elected to the House of Representatives of the Philippines, representing the 3rd District of Cagayan. First elected in 1995, he was re-elected in 2001, 2004, and 2007. He was also a municipal mayor of Tuao, Cagayan, from 1988 to 1995.

The Honorable
Manuel N. Mamba
33rd Governor of Cagayan
Incumbent
Assumed office
June 30, 2016
Vice GovernorMelvin Vargas Jr.
Preceded byAlvaro Antonio
Head of Presidential Legislative Liaison Office
In office
February 20, 2012 – October 16, 2015
PresidentBenigno Aquino III
Preceded byAntonino Roman
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Cagayan's 3rd district
In office
June 30, 2001 – June 30, 2010
Preceded byRodolfo Aguinaldo
Succeeded byRandolph Ting
In office
June 30, 1995 – June 30, 1998
Preceded byFrancisco K. Mamba
Succeeded byRodolfo Aguinaldo
Mayor of Tuao
In office
February 2, 1988 – June 30, 1995
Personal details
Born
Manuel Noveno Mamba

(1958-08-19) August 19, 1958 (age 66)
Tuao, Cagayan, Philippines
Political partyNacionalista (2021–present)
Other political
affiliations		Independent (2018–2021)
Liberal (2004–2018)
Lakas–NUCD (until 2004)
SpouseMabel Villarica
Alma materUniversity of Santo Tomas (BS, M.D)
OccupationDoctor, politician

He also served as the Presidential Legislative Liaison Officer.

Personal life

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He is the son of Congressman Francisco K. Mamba Sr. and Estela Noveno-Mamba.[1] He is married to Atty. Mabel Villarica–Mamba, former chairperson and chief executive officer of the National Youth Commission and former director of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.[2][3] They have two sons.[1]

He and his brothers, William and Francisco Jr., served as mayor of Tuao, Cagayan.[3][4] Another brother, then Solana mayor Leonardo, was assassinated while campaigning for Congress in 1992.[5][6]

A graduate of the University of Santo Tomas, Mamba is a physician by profession.[2][3] He became licensed in 1983.[1]

Political career

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As provincial board member and municipal mayor

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Mamba began his political career in 1987 when he became a member of the Cagayan Provincial Board.[1] He was the mayor of his hometown, Tuao, from 1988 to 1995.[3][1]

As district representative

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Mamba represented the third district of Cagayan in the House of the Representatives within four terms (1995–1998, 2001–2010).[1][3][7]

Aquino cabinet

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During the administration of President Benigno Aquino III, Mamba was appointed in 2013 as a member of his Cabinet.[7] He served as the Presidential Legislative Liaison Officer[2][3] and was also as the Presidential Adviser on Legislative Affairs.[1]

During the 2013 Philippine general election on 13 May, Mamba accused then-governor Alvaro Antonio of firing an AK-47 at his convoy in Alcala while en route to a function in Manila.[8] At the time, Mamba's brother William lost his bid to unseat Antonio for the governorship. Antonio denied the accusation.[9]

As provincial governor

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In 2010, Mamba unsuccessfully ran for governor of Cagayan, losing to reelectionist Alvaro Antonio.[10]

In 2016, Mamba, ran under Liberal Party and was elected Cagayan governor.[11] He was re-elected in 2019 as an independent.[12][13]

In the 2022 elections, he filed his candidacy under the Nacionalista Party and ran and won against PDP–Laban candidate, Ma. Zarah Rose Lara.[7][14][15]

Under his administration, he initiated programs including the Cagayan Development Agenda (Caganda 2025), "No Barangay, No Town Left Behind", and the Cagayan River Restoration Project.[3] Meanwhile, for his efforts to maintain peace and order in the province, in 2019, Mamba was recognized as a Kapayapaan Awardee, while the Provincial Government of Cagayan became a National Awardee in the Anti-Drug Abuse Council Performance Audit.[1]

Opposition to US military presence

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Mamba strongly opposed the expansion of US military presence under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, which escalated under the administration of President Bongbong Marcos and opened the Camilo Osias Naval Base in Santa Ana and Cagayan North International Airport in Lal-lo to American military personnel in 2023,[16][17] citing the risk of the Philippines being dragged into a wider conflict with China.[18]

2025 election

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Mamba is running for vice governor of Cagayan in the 2025 Philippine general election, with Edgar Aglipay as his running mate.[19]

Controversies

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Illegal gambling

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In 2005, Mamba admitted that he and his family were involved in illegal gambling, particularly the numbers game known as jueteng, until 1992. He has since become a critic of the game.[5]

Election complaints

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In 2001, an election protest against Mamba was filed by his rival, outgoing Rep. Rodolfo Aguinaldo, with the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal due to accusations of vote-buying and terrorism. Aguinaldo died later in an ambush.[20]

His re-election in 2007 became the subject of complaint of then Tuguegarao city mayor Randolph Ting as the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting reported discrepancies in election results from certain precincts in Tuao. Mamba, as well as his allies in the province, allegedly led the tallies by big margins.[21]

In 2016, one of his opponents, Cristina Antonio, filed an election protest against Mamba on allegations of massive fraud in the May elections, but was later dismissed by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Second Division as it was declared "insufficient in form and content."[22]

Mamba, who had been re-elected in May 2022, was later disqualified at least twice from the gubernatorial elections, both for violation of the 45-day election ban on public fund use.[23] The first was through a resolution by the COMELEC Second Division, issued in December 2022. The petition was filed by his opponent, Zara Lara. Mamba was the second incumbent governor to be given such order, after Noel Rosal of Albay, who was disqualified with finality in November over a similar offense.[24][25] The case, however, was dismissed by the COMELEC en banc through its resolution issued on March 6, 2023, citing lack of jurisdiction, provided that once a winning candidate has been proclaimed, any petition for the disqualification is prohibited by the existing laws;[26][27] only to be overturned by the Supreme Court on April 22, 2024, citing grave abuse of discretion by the commission,[28] with its reopening for its merits being ordered.[29]

On April 24, the COMELEC First Division ruled to disqualify Mamba in a separate case filed by a different petitioner, which also cited violations of public spending during his reelection campaign in 2022.[30] Mamba said that he would appeal the decision and stay in office as governor pending a final decision.[31]

Contempt charges

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On 24 August 2023, Mamba was detained by the House of Representatives for contempt after he and other officials of the Cagayan provincial government failed to attend a committee hearing regarding the allegations of electoral spending against him. Later in the day, the Supreme Court issued a restraining order against his detention, and he was released by the House that evening after apologizing to the chamber.[32] In February 2024, the Supreme Court fined Mamba and his counsel Macalintal Law Office for indirect contempt under Rule 71, Section 3(c) and (d) of the Rules of Court.[33]

Assault

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In 2017, Mamba and his aides physically assaulted an employee of the provincial capitol on the nape for allegedly disrespecting him during a flag ceremony. The victim subsequently apologized, saying that he had left the ceremony after thinking it had concluded.[34]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Profile of Gov. Manuel N. Mamba M.D., Cagayan". League of Provinces of the Philippines. Government of the Philippines. Archived from the original on December 15, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Mendez, Christina (November 21, 2011). "Noy names new PLLO chief". Philstar.com. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Villamor Visaya Jr. (October 7, 2021). "Cagayan guv vies for final term of office". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  4. ^ "PCIJ Primer: Unpacking federalism; Stats on the state of the regions: Who will rule? Send in the clans". Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. July 18, 2018. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Charlie Lagasca (2 June 2005). "Cagayan lawmaker admits his clan used to run jueteng". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  6. ^ "Mystery troops fire warning shots at police checkpoint". Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. 26 April 1992. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  7. ^ a b c Pia Ranada (May 3, 2022). "Cagayan governor allied with Marcos 'not impressed' with his track record". Rappler. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  8. ^ TJ Burgonio (15 May 2013). "Mamba asks why governor wasn't charged in shooting". Inquirer.net. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  9. ^ Melvin Gascon (21 May 2013). "Cagayan's rugged road to political change". Inquirer.net. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  10. ^ "Cabinet exec links Cagayan gov to ambush". Rappler. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  11. ^ "Halalan 2016 Results: Cagayan". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  12. ^ Villamor Visaya Jr. (May 16, 2019). "Cagayan Gov. Mamba gets reelected; other winning bets proclaimed". Inquirer.net. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  13. ^ "Eleksyon 2019 Results: Cagayan". GMA News. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  14. ^ Villamor Visaya Jr. (May 11, 2022). "Mamba elected Cagayan gov for 3rd term". Inquirer.net. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  15. ^ "Eleksyon 2022 Results: Cagayan". GMA News. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  16. ^ Cabrera, Romina (2023-04-06). "Governors split on hosting of new EDCA sites". The Philippine Star.
  17. ^ Gregorio, Xave (2023-03-22). "Enrile wants to lift constitutional ban on nukes. Here's why Philippines can't do that". The Philippine Star.
  18. ^ Ombay, Giselle (2023-02-06). "Cagayan governor opposes possible hosting of EDCA sites". GMA News.
  19. ^ Visaya, Villamor (October 7, 2024). "Ex-PNP chief Edgar Aglipay files candidacy for Cagayan governor". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  20. ^ Lito Salatan (June 13, 2001). "Cagayan solon slain in ambush". The Philippine Star. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  21. ^ Charlie Lagasca (June 6, 2007). "Still no winner in Cagayan governor race". The Philippine Star. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  22. ^ "Election protest vs. Cagayan Governor ibinasura". Abante Tonite (in Tagalog). November 20, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  23. ^ Locus, Sundy (April 24, 2024). "Comelec disqualifies Cagayan's Mamba anew". GMA News Online. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  24. ^ Dwight de Leon (December 15, 2022). "Comelec disqualifies Cagayan Governor Mamba over election spending ban". Rappler. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  25. ^ "Comelec division disqualifies Cagayan governor Mamba". CNN Philippines. December 15, 2022. Archived from the original on December 15, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  26. ^ Dwight de Leon (March 6, 2023). "Cagayan Governor Mamba keeps seat after Comelec backtracks on DQ decision". Rappler. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  27. ^ Vince Jacob Visaya (March 8, 2023). "Mamba disqualification case junked". The Manila Times. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  28. ^ Casilao, Joahna Lei (April 22, 2024). "SC reverses Comelec's dismissal of Mamba disqualification petition". GMA News.
  29. ^ Pazzibugan, Donna (April 23, 2024). "Comelec told to rule on Mamba DQ case". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  30. ^ de Leon, Dwight (April 24, 2024). "Comelec again disqualifies Cagayan's Mamba from 2022 gubernatorial election". Rappler. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  31. ^ Dumlao, Artemio (April 26, 2024). "Cagayan Governor Mamba to appeal Comelec DQ". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  32. ^ De Leon, Dwight (24 August 2023). "Cagayan Governor Mamba released after SC blocks House's detention order". Rappler.
  33. ^ Parungao, Adrian (February 13, 2024). "SC fines Cagayan Gov. Mamba, counsel for indirect contempt". Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  34. ^ Dullana, Raymon (24 August 2023). "Cagayan governor Mamba hits 'disrespectful' employee on the nape". Rappler.
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Political offices
Preceded by Governor of Cagayan
2016–present 		Incumbent
House of Representatives of the Philippines
Preceded by Member of the House of Representatives
from Cagayan's 3rd district
2001–2010 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Francisco K. Mamba
 Member of the House of Representatives
from Cagayan's 3rd district
1995–1998 		Succeeded by
Rodolfo Aguinaldo
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