The couple Antionio H. Cerilles and Aurora E. Cerilles are long time political figures in Zamboanga politics. Both have alternated between the legislative and executive branches of government, and during the course of their political careers have authored six bills in support of the Mindanao Railway. (See full list of bills here).
Both have been congresspersons of the 2nd District of Zamboanga del Sur, starting with Antonio who was the inaugural representative of the district. He remained so till 1998 when he assumed the role of Secretary of Environment & Natural Resources under the Estrada administration. Aurora succeeded him as congresswoman for the district until 2001, at which point she was elected as governor of the province. Antonio returned to his congressional seat in 2004, and the couple reversed their roles 2010. Aurora sought election as governor of the province again in 2019 but was unsuccessful.
As congressman of the 2nd District of Zamboanga del Sur, Antonio kept the Mindanao Railway in the legislative agenda for the 8th, 9th, 13th and 14th. Aurora, for her part, took up the cause in the 11th and 15th congresses.
The table below shows their legislative record with regard to the Mindanao Railway.
| Bill | Author | Filed | Read | Title | Status |
| HB03788 | Cerilles, Antonio H. | 18 Nov 1987 | 23 Nov 1987 | An act creating the Mindanao Railways Authority, prescribing its powers, functions and duties, and providing for the necessary funds for its operations | Primary Referral: TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION Bill Status: Pending with the Committee on TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION since 1987-11-23 |
| HB35377 | Cerilles, Antionio H. | 29 Jan 1992 | 29 Jan 1992 | An act establishing a railway system in Mindanao | Primary Referral: RULES House Committee Report No.: 01773 Submitting Committees: TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION Bill Status: Business for Thursday & Friday on 1992-01-29 |
| HB01182 | Cerilles, Aurora E | 21 Jul 1998 | 30 Jul 1998 | An act creating the Mindanao Railways Authority, prescribing its power, function and duties, and providing for the necessary funds for its operations | Primary Referral: GOVERNMENT ENTERPRISES AND PRIVATIZATION Secondary Referral/s: WAYS AND MEANS, APPROPRIATIONS, TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS Bill Status: Pending with the Committee on GOVERNMENT ENTERPRISES AND PRIVATIZATION since 1998-07-30 |
| HB03595 | Cerilles, Antonio H | 13 Jan 2005 | 18 Jan 2005 | An act creating the Mindanao Railways Authority, prescribing its powers, functions, and duties and appropriating funds for its operation | Primary Referral: RAILWAYS AND RO-RO SYSTEMS Secondary Referral/s: GOVERNMENT ENTERPRISES AND PRIVATIZATION, APPROPRIATIONS Previous Referrals: SECONDARILY REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS on 2005-01-18; SECONDARILY REFERRED TO APPROPRIATIONS on 2005-01-18; Bill Status: Pending with the Committee on RAILWAYS AND RO-RO SYSTEMS since 2005-01-18 |
| HB02656 | Cerilles, Antonio H. | 24 Sep 2007 | 01 Oct 2007 | An act creating the Mindanao Railways Authority, prescribing its powers, functions, and duties and appropriating funds for its operation | Primary Referral: TRANSPORTATION Secondary Referral/s: MINDANAO AFFAIRS Previous Referrals: PRIMARILY REFERRED TO GOVERNMENT ENTERPRISES AND PRIVATIZATION on 2007-10-01; SECONDARILY REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION on 2007-10-01; COMMITTEE ACTIONS: Under deliberation by the Mother Committee on 2008-03-12 Bill Status: Under deliberation by the Mother Committee on 2008-03-12 |
| HB01354 | Cerilles, Aurora E. | 13 Jul 2010 | 02 Aug 2010 | An act creating the Mindanao Railways Authority, prescribing its powers, functions and duties, and appropriating funds for its operations | Primary Referral: TRANSPORTATION Secondary Referral/s: MINDANAO AFFAIRS COMMITTEE ACTIONS: Approved by the Committee on 2010-11-17 Referred to stakeholders on 2012-02-06 Bill Status: Referred to stakeholders on 2012-02-06 |