Jailed mayor, priest win Iligan poll
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – Jailed Iligan City Mayor Celso Regencia has been reelected.
Regencia of the Nationalist People’s Coalition got 68,995 votes against Rudy Marzo of the Liberal Party who got 37,029 votes.
Regencia and 13 other persons were charged with multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder for the ambush on the convoy of Iligan Rep. Vicente Belmonte in 2014. Belmonte was wounded and three of his aides were killed in the attack.
Regencia’s running mate Jemar Vera Cruz, who took a leave of absence from priesthood, was also proclaimed on Tuesday. He garnered 61,417 votes against Providencio Abragan’s 48,716 votes.
“He got the sympathy votes as Iliganons feel that he was oppressed and victimized by those in power,” Demosthenes Plando, Regencia’s lawyer told The STAR.
Plando said his client’s incarceration would not be a hindrance as they could always send the documents to be signed to the city jail.
He said the city legal officer and city administrator could also function if the mayor is physically absent.
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