General Santos mayor wants to become city’s first congressman

General Santos Mayor Ronnel Rivera is seeking to become the first congressman of the newly-created congressional district of the city.

Rivera, who is serving his third and final term as city mayor, filed his certificate of candidacy for congressman on Monday, October 4. 

General Santos will elect for the first time its own congressman after the 2019 creation of a separate district. The city used to be part of the congressional district of South Cotabato.

The mayor, a scion of one of the richest families in General Santos and Soccsksargen region, is the leader of the RCR Movement, which he formed after his falling out early this year with Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, a senator who is now running for president. “RCR” are Rivera’s initials.

He was a city councilor in General Santos until he launched his successful campaign for the city’s mayorship under the People’s Champ Movement of Pacquiao.

Rivera is a son of fishing magnate Rodrigo Rivera, who owns one of the largest lenders in the country, RD Pawnshop, which is just a part of a business empire that includes firms operating fish canneries abroad, fishing fleets, hardware stores, hotels, and resorts. – Rappler.com

Rommel Rebollido is a Mindanao-based journalist and an awardee of the Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship.