Backers shave heads for jailed Iligan mayor

SOME of the newly shaved and newly sworn in members of the Iligan City council with Vice Mayor Jemar Vera Cruz, a Catholic priest who is demanding freedom for Iligan Mayor Celso Regencia JIGGER J. JERUSALEM/INQUIRER MINDANAO

ILIGAN CITY—At least 10 elected officials here shaved their heads on Thursday as they urged President  Duterte to hasten the release of jailed Mayor Celso Regencia, who had been reelected to another term.

Vice Mayor Jemar Vera Cruz, priest on leave, and nine of the 12 new members of the city council had their heads shaved after their oath-taking, which was administered by Executive Judge Albert Abragan.

Three of Vera Cruz’s priest-colleagues, Fathers Albert Mendez, Nasser Zaragoza and Jeffrey Balanay, also had their heads shaved.

Vera Cruz is Regencia’s party mate.

Vera Cruz said Regencia’s continued detention was politically motivated.

Regencia was charged with murder and frustrated murder in connection with the 2014 ambush of then Iligan Rep. Vicente “Varf” Belmonte.

The ambush of Belmonte, which killed three of his escorts, took place following his admission that he wanted to run for mayor against Regencia.

Belmonte filed his certificate of candidacy in October last year but withdrew it later saying he feared for his life, pointing to Regencia as the one who wanted him dead.

Vera Cruz said he would not assume the post of mayor.

“There is only one mayor elected and that is Mayor Celso Regencia,” said Vera Cruz.

“To the people who think that because he is in prison, I will sit as mayor, that won’t happen because I have no ambition to replace him,” said Vera Cruz.

Speaking through phone patch, Regencia said although he was in jail, he would function as mayor to serve the people of Iligan.

The Local Government Code stated that jailed elected officials were considered temporarily incapacitated. Jigger Jerusalem, Inquirer Mindanao