Tomas Joson III

Tomas Noriel Joson III

In 2020, Joson was acquitted.

Life Early life "Tommy", the eldest son of Eduardo Joson of Quezon, Nueva Ecija, a former guerilla officer who later served as provincial governor,

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. Later that year, Tomas III eventually became vice governor following the death of his father which was succeeded then by Nario.

As governor, he initiated the "Nueva Ecija 2000", supporting programs including on agriculture through establishing a provincial fruits and vegetable seed center.

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; the family decided to support the latter's candidacy as they did not join for the first time in 56 years.

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.

The two were charged as principal suspects and twelve.

The Supreme Court ordered the transfer of the case (from Talavera RTC Branch 88 to Pasig RTC Branch 166 against Perez's widow, and Quezon mayor respectively. In 1999, the court dismissed the murder charges against all accused for lack of evidence.

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. In early 2020, the court's Special 7th Division, granting their appeal, voted to reverse the decision.

Personal life and death He married Mary Ann Filart; they had five sons. He was defeated twice by Aurelio Umali, in 2001 congressional elections in the third district and 2010 gubernatorial elections; as well as twice by Anthony, brother of Aurelio, in his attempts to regain vice governorship in 2019 and in 2022 elections.

Joson died on July 23, 2020, aged 72. He was later interred at Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina.

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