Joseph Bernos
Filipino politician
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Joseph Sto. Niño "JB" Blando Bernos is a Filipino politician. He is a member of the Philippine House of Representatives representing the Lone District of Abra since 2025, previously holding the seat from 2016 to 2022.[1] From 2006 to 2016 and again from 2022 to 2025, he was the mayor of La Paz, Abra.
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Joseph Bernos | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2025 | |
| Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Abra's Lone district | |
| Assumed office June 30, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Menchie Bernos |
| In office June 30, 2016 – June 30, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Maria Jocelyn Bernos |
| Succeeded by | Menchie Bernos |
| Mayor of La Paz | |
| In office June 30, 2022 – June 30, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Menchie Bernos |
| Succeeded by | Danielle Belyne Bernos |
| In office January 13, 2006 – June 30, 2016 | |
| Vice Mayor | Menchie Bernos |
| Preceded by | Marc Ysrael Bernos |
| Succeeded by | Menchie Bernos |
| Vice Mayor of La Paz | |
| In office June 30, 2004 – January 13, 2006 | |
| Mayor | Marc Ysrael Bernos |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Joseph Sto. Niño B. Bernos |
| Party | Lakas-CMD (2008–2012; 2024–present) |
| Other political affiliations | Nacionalista (2021–2024) Asenso (local party; 2018–2024) PDP-Laban (2016–2021) Liberal (2012–2016) KAMPI (2007–2008) |
| Spouse | Menchie Beronilla |
| Children | 2 |
Early life and career
Joseph Bernos is the son of former Governor of Abra Andres Bernos. His first political experience was as a Sangguniang Kabataan federation president. He served as a councilor of La Paz. He then served as the vice mayor. He was eventually elected as the mayor of La Paz.[2]
Mayor of Abra (2006–2016)
In January 2006, he was sworn in after the murder of Mayor Marc Ysrael Bernos. Department of the Interior and Local Government then-Secretary Angelo Reyes ordered the tightening of security.[3] In December 2006, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo berated Bernos and other mayors during a meeting because of the vulnerability of Abra after the killing of Representative Luis Bersamin.[4] In a report published in 2007, Bernos was linked to four partisan armed groups members.[5] Bernos condemned the New People's Army killing of a councilor bet.[6]
House of Representatives (2016–2022, 2025–present)
Bernos ran for Abra's at-large congressional district in the 2016 Philippine House of Representatives elections under the Liberal Party. He gained 63,033 votes, winning against three other candidates.[7] In the 2019 Philippine House of Representatives elections, he ran for the lone district of Abra under the Asenso Party. He won with 115,081 votes against two other candidates.[8] On March 24, 2021, Bernos announced that he had tested positive for COVID-19.[9] Bernos was reelected in 2025 under Lakas-CMD.
Mayor of La Paz, Abra (2022–2025)
In the 2022 Philippine local elections, he ran for the Mayor of Abra under the Nacionalista Party. He won unopposed with 10,490 votes.[10] During his term, he was elected as the president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines.[11]
Controversies
DZRH provincial news correspondent Romeo Gonzales filed a complaint with the Philippine National Police in Baguio City on April 23,2025 alleging that La Paz, Abra Mayor Joseph “JB” Bernos—who is also a congressional candidate—threatened him to follow his report on a shooting incident in Abra for DZRH News.[12][13] On April 21, 2025 in Barangay Budac, Tayum, Abra, Gonzales covered and reported on a violent confrontation between armed police personnel and a barangay official. His report was subsequently disseminated across DZRH’s multimedia platforms.[14]
The Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas issued a strong condemnation of the threats allegedly made by La Paz, Abra Mayor Joseph "JB" Bernos against Romeo Gonzales, a provincial correspondent for DZRH radio station.[15]