Mayor’s biggest threat – his wife

Family ties are only as good as the next elections – at least in some parts of Iloilo City. In Sara town, the incumbent pro-administration mayor is facing the biggest threat to his job – his own wife.

In the May elections, Mayor Neptali Salcedo of the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino or Kampi will have to contend with his wife Emelita, a businesswoman, who is running under the opposition Ugyon-Liberal party.

Her party is led by re-electionist Gov. Niel Tupas who will be challenged in the polls by his own vice governor, administration candidate Roberto Armada.

This was not the first time the Salcedos clashed in an election. In 2004, Ermelita ran but lost to Neptali in the mayoralty race.

The couple’s son, Jesus, is gunning for a seat in the provincial board as an independent candidate.

A daughter, Jeneda, is running uncontested for vice mayor. Jeneda is currently the president of the provincial federation of the Sangguniang Kabataan and an ex-officio member of the provincial board.

Running for seats in the town’s council are three more Salcedos, Francis Xavier and Noel, both of Lakas-CMD; and retired teacher Louella, who is with the opposition Ugyon.

In San Joaquin, former mayor Sebastian Serag gears up to reclaim his old job from his sister, incumbent Mayor Nimfa Garin who is the wife of former congressman now Philippine Coconut Administration administrator Oscar Garin.

Serag has allied himself with congressional candidate and Miag-ao Mayor Gerardo Flores, a former police general and a known ally of Governor Tupas. Flores will be squaring off with the Garin family in the election for the first district representatives.

Serag has also linked up with the camp of former mayor Daisy Sibya, widow of the slain Mayor Jesus Sibya whose death shortly before the May 2004 polls was originally blamed on Serag’s camp.

Serag said he decided to challenge his sister, whom he accused of mismanaging the town.