The chief executives of Bantayan, Cebu

During the Spanish colonization, the town or pueblo of Bantayan, Cebu had in its record, Jacinto Mansueto as its Capitan, from 1763 to 1770. He was followed by Felix Cañete, with the following successor Capitanes: Tinoy Gimenez, Puragtong Villacastin, Simeon dela Pena, Mariano Caquilala, Jantoy Villacastin, Nicolas Escario, Ruperto Maderazo, Magdaleno Villacin, Manuel Ribo, Fortunato Villaceran, Rogerio Villacrucis and Magdaleno Villacin.

Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo declared Philippine Independence on June 12, 1898, with him as its President appointed as Hefe Militar of Bantayan, Gregorio Escario. When the Philippines were sold by Spain to the United States by virtue of the Treaty of Paris on December 10, 1898, the Chief Executives of the towns or municipalities was changed to Presidents. The First Municipal President elected in 1904 was Gregorio Escario. In 1902, after the census conducted by the Americans, the new colonizers ordered the conduct of local elections then followed in 1906 with the election of the members of the National Assembly by districts.

Gregorio was succeeded by Margarito Escario in 1908, followed by Gregorio Escario in 1910, Roque Villacin (1912), Pedro Lozada (1916), Roque Villacin (1919), Felixberto Escario (1922), Mariano Causing (1928) and Jose Ybanez in 1931.

The Americans then changed the title of the chief executives from President to Mayor. In Bantayan, Cebu its Mayor was Pedro Lozada (1934 up to 1937) and Isidro Escario from 1937 up to 1946.

When Congress was reconvened in 1945, Senators Manuel Roxas and Elpidio Quiriono called for an early election. Don Sergio Suico Osmeña then called for a special session of congress who then enacted Commonwealth Act 725 setting a general elections. President Osmeña then signed the bill into law on January 5, 1946. The law set the general elections on April 23, 1946.

On January 3, 1946 Don Sergio Osmeña announced his candidacy, a convention of the Nacionalista Party was held on January 22, 1946, Osmeña won the convention as its Presidential candidate with Senator Eulogio Rodriguez as its Vice President. Congressman Jose Romero accused Senator Roxas of "fanning the fumes of discontent." Senator Roxas bolted out from the Nacionalista and created his faction, the Nacionalista Party Liberal Wing, since Osmeña had the support of the majority of the members of the Nacionalista Party which he created.

President Osmeña made effort to preserve the party by offering Senator Roxas a position as Regent but the latter did not accept it and the party was split giving birth to the party now known as the Liberal Party.

Senator Roxas won as President together with his Vice President, Elpidio Quirino. The presidency of Roxas was however short lived as he died on April 15, 1948. Roxas was then succeeded by his Vice President, Elpidio Quirino.

That is why after World War II, after Roxas won the presidency, he replaced the local government officials appointed by then President Osmeña. In 1946, Atty. Cecilio Gillamac (who became a lawyer on January 8, 1946, he also became the venerable Dean of the College of Law of the University of the Visayas) was appointed by Roxas as Mayor of Bantayan, Cebu.

Gillamac served as Mayor until 1948, and in the elections held in 1948, Isidro Escario won and held office until 1960. Isidro who later became Board Member was succeeded by his wife, Remedios Escario who was Mayor from 1960 to 1968. Remedios was succeeded by Jesus Escario as Mayor from 1971 up to 1986. When EDSA People Power erupted in February 1986, Corazon Aquino became Revolutionary President, she then replaced the duly elected officials by Officer in Charge or known by many as OIC. Eleno Ybañez was appointed OIC Mayor from April 13, 1986 to November 30, 1987.

When the 1987 Constitution was approved a general election was set on January 18, 1988, thus who held the position as OIC and who is running was replaced by caretakers, in Bantayan, Cebu it was Filomeno Pastoriza who held the position until February 1, 1988. Rex A. Escario won as Mayor (son of Mayors Isidro and Remedios Escario). When Rex Escario was imprisoned, his Vice Mayor, Diosdado P. Dosdos succeeded him.

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