Congressman Siao runs for Iligan mayor against vice mayor-priest

Iligan Lone District Representative Frederick Siao is running for mayor of the “Industrial City of the South.”

Siao filed his certificate of candidacy for mayor at the Commission on Elections-Robinson’s Mall center under the Nacionalista Party on Monday, October 4.

Siao, who is on his second term as an Iligan congressman, is challenging the group of Iligan Mayor Celso Regencia, who is fielding Catholic priest-turned-Vice-Mayor Jemar Vera Cruz as mayoral candidate. Members of the Regencia-backed ticket have yet to file their COCs.

Regencia, who is serving his third and final office term, is eyeing the congressional seat of Iligan. 

Siao filed his COC alongside his running mate Marianito Alemania, a businessman who owns a hotel in Iligan and chain of bakeshops. He ran for mayor in 2019 but lost to Regencia.

Siao’s ally, former congressman Vicente Belmonte of National Unity Party, also filed his COC for congressman, a move that would make him clash head-on with Regencia.

There is bad blood between Belmonte and Regencia – the mayor was accused by the former congressman of masterminding his 2014 ambush near the airport in Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental, charges the local chief executive strongly denied. – Rappler.com