Ex-lady mayor, 77 runs again in Santiago City

By Vince Jacob Visaya

SANTIAGO CITY— Bucking old age at 77, former three-term mayor Amelita Sison-Navarro has filed her certificate of candidacy (CoC) for mayor here before the Commission on Elections deadline.
    Navarro, a nurse and past president of the Auxiliary to the Philippine Medical Association, served as acting mayor when she was vice mayor in the late 90s when then Mayor Jose Miranda had been suspended by the Ombudsman for various cases.
    Navarro is running under the Reporma Party of Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson.
    “I would like to pursue my passion of public service to my fellow Santiaguenos so I would offer myself again,” she said.
    In 2019, she withdrew her bid for a congressional seat and later filed her CoC for mayor.
    She lost to now three-term Mayor Joseph Tan.
    Navarro is expected to slug it out with incumbent Rep. Alyssa Tan-Dy (Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan) who is changing seats with Mayor Tan (her uncle), former councilor Joseph Miranda (son of former mayor Jose Miranda) and retired colonel Manuel Coronel, a Kilusang Bagong Lipunan bet.