Female Army general retires early to run for mayor in Iloilo

MANILA, Philippines–The Philippine Army’s first woman general has opted for early retirement to run for mayor in Iloilo in next year’s elections.

Brigadier General Ramona Go, Armed Forces of the Philippines Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, retired on September 30 to run for mayor under the ruling Liberal Party in San Enrique, Iloilo.

Her immediate superior, AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel Maj. Gen Raoul Reyes, also retired on Sept. 30 to run for mayor in Murcia, Negros Occidental.

“It is not really my dream to politics but the situation calls that I have to join … Our town was once a part of the town Passi and my great, great grandparents were the once who segregated it from Passi. So, I want to improve it,” Go said Tuesday.

“I’m not saying that the incumbent did not make any improvement (but) because of my network, I could bring progress to my town,” she added.

Go said she served in the military for 33 years and would make sure that, if elected, “the armed forces will still be proud of me.”

“I gave my all so I’m very fulfilled in my service. I’m sure the armed forces has felt that I gave my all. No regrets. This is another career that I’ll be taking and I will make sure that the armed forces will still be proud of me,” Go said.

She said she filed her certificate of candidacy yesterday. Go, who was supposed to retire on March 21 upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56, will be running against the brother of the incumbent.

“I know that the armed forces is very, very happy for my decision,” Go said.

On the other hand, Reyes said he would be filing his certificate of candidacy today for the mayoralty post of Murcia, Negros Occidental. He will be running as an independent.

“Actually, it was a very hard decision that I made because I still have six more months to go. But I think if I will not resign, I’ll miss my chance … our town really hasn’t progressed. I feel sorry for my town,” Reyes said.

“I’m really from Murcia. I’m a true blooded Murciahano,” he added.

Reyes said he served in the military for 36 years so “I don’t think they can say that I don’t love the service.”

“It’s just that, you know, if you want to retire you have to do something good also for the sake of your birthplace. So, I think if I will miss the chance, I’ll have a hard time initiating changes (in Murcia) because (my political opponents) would be very entrenched here in Murcia,” Reyes said.

“They’re so powerful that they could do anything they want, so it’s now, I just looking (forward) for this chance,” he said.