Carmelo Lazatin Jr.
Carmelo Lazatin Jr. | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2022 | |
| 12th Mayor of Angeles City | |
| Assumed office June 30, 2019 | |
| Vice Mayor | Vicky Vega-Cabigting |
| Preceded by | Edgardo D. Pamintuan |
| Member of the Angeles City Council | |
| In office June 30, 2013 – June 30, 2019 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Carmelo Gurion Lazatin, Jr.[1] August 28, 1969[2] Angeles City, Philippines |
| Political party | Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (2018–present) KAMBILAN (local party) |
| Spouse | Ma. Tiffanee Lazatin |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Carmelo "Jon" Lazatin II (half-brother) |
| Education |
|
| Occupation | Politician, businessman |
| Website | http://www.carmelopogilazatinjr.com/ |
| Nickname | Pogi |
Carmelo Gurion Lazatin Jr. (Tagalog: [kɐrˈmɛlo lɐˈsatɪn dʒuˈnjɔr]; born August 28, 1969), also known by the Angeleños as Pogi Lazatin, is a Filipino politician and businessman who is serving as the 12th and current City Mayor of Angeles, Pampanga since 2019 and was re-elected for a second term in 2022.[3] Prior to his mayoral tenure, he served as a councilor of Angeles City. He is the son of former Pampanga's First District Representative Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin Sr.
Early life and education
[edit]Pogi was born on August 28, 1969 in Angeles City to Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin Sr., a former Mayor of Angeles City and Representative of the 1st District of Pampanga and Iluminada Gurion Lazatin.[4] He is an alumnus of Angeles University Foundation, where he earned his Bachelor of Business Management degree. He then proceeded to Republic Central Colleges to pursue a Bachelor of Science, Major in Business Administration.Then he continued his education at the same institution, earning both a Master in Business Administration and a Master in Public Administration.[2]
Political career
[edit]Councilor of Angeles City (2013–2019)
[edit]Lazatin first entered politics, where he run and won as City Councilor of Angeles City from 2013 to 2019. As a Councilor, he has initiated numerous projects.[5][6]
Mayor of Angeles City (2019–present)
[edit]In 2018, Lazatin announced that he will run as Mayor of Angeles City under Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP)[7] with Maria Vicenta Vega-Cabigting as his running mate.[8] He was then elected for the first time in 2019 with half a thousand votes[9] and re-elected in 2022 under Kapanalig at Kambilan ning Memalen Pamapanga (KAMBILAN),[10][11][12] securing his position with over a thousand votes—the highest in the city’s history, winning in all clustered precincts across the city’s 33 barangays.[13]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFP | Carmelo Lazatin Jr. | 59,192 | ||||
| PAK/ABE | Bryan Matthew Nepomuceno | 45,711 | ||||
| KAMBILAN | Alex Cauguiran | 26,109 | ||||
| Independent | Edel Morales | 1,238 | ||||
| Independent | Ryan David | 1,104 | ||||
| Independent | Radito Tuazon | 214 | ||||
| Independent | Romerico David | 156 | ||||
| Total votes | 133,724 | 100.00% | ||||
| PFP gain from PAK/ABE | ||||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KAMBILAN | Carmelo Lazatin Jr. | 103,255 | 70.51% | |
| Aksyon | Amos Rivera | 43,193 | 29.49% | |
| Total votes | 146,448 | 100.00% | ||
| KAMBILAN hold | ||||
In October 2019, during his first term, Mayor Lazatin ordered the closure of "Golden Build Limited, Incorporated," a Chinese-operated Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) firm. The company was operating illegally in Angeles City without a business permit and failing to pay taxes for its operations.[14]
In May 2020, Lazatin, with assistance from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), shut down an illegal Chinese pharmacy. The majority of the patients at this unauthorized medical facility were Chinese employees of a POGO, located within a 300-hectare residential resort.[15]
On May 31, 2023, Lazatin most famous project the "Walang Plastikan: Plastik Palit Bigas Project," became a National Finalist and was honored by President Bongbong Marcos Jr. at Malacañang Palace. The project earned recognition for its innovative strategy in reducing hunger and enhancing environmental sustainability.[16][17][18]
Lazatin inaugurated the "Kanlungan ng Kabataan Reformation Center," in September 2024 a ₱41 million facility dedicated to rehabilitating homeless individuals and supporting youth in need of care and guidance.[19][20]
2025 congressional bid
[edit]On October 1, 2024, Lazatin submitted his Certificate of Candidacy (COC) for the 2025 Philippine Midterm Election to contest for the position of Pampanga's First District Representative at the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). Should he win, he will succeed his half-brother, the incumbent First District Representative Carmelo "Jon" Lazatin II, who is concurrently campaigning for the mayoralty of Angeles City, with the potential to replace his half-brother in that role.[21][22]
Personal life
[edit]Lazatin is married to Maria Tiffanee Lazatin and has three children, who are often seen supporting his public engagements. His grandfather, Rafael Lazatin, was also a former governor of Pampanga.
References
[edit]- ^ "Carmelo "Pogi" Lazatin Jr. | For Angeles City Mayor". Retrieved September 5, 2024.
- ^ a b "BIOGRAPHY OF COUN. CARMELO "POGI" G. LAZATIN, JR. | Carmelo "Pogi" Lazatin Jr". Retrieved September 5, 2024.
- ^ Cayabyab, Charlene A. (May 10, 2022). "Pogi Lazatin wins landslide in Angeles City mayoral race". SunStar Publishing Inc. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
- ^ Cayabyab, Charlene A. (July 2, 2022). "Angeles mayor takes oath for second term". SunStar Publishing Inc. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
- ^ admin (November 26, 2018). "ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT FOR 2013 – 2018 | Carmelo "Pogi" Lazatin Jr". Retrieved September 5, 2024.
- ^ "Lazatin sasabak uli sa pagka-councilor". The Philippine Star. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
- ^ Navales, Reynaldo G. (September 5, 2018). "Angeles dad announces mayoralty bid". SunStar Publishing Inc. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
- ^ "PROFILE: MARIA VICENTA VEGA | Candidate for Vice-mayor - 2022 elections". PHVOTE. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
- ^ Lando, Roy (December 28, 2019). "Carmelo "Pogi" Lazatin Jr. Biography - PeoPlaid Profile, Career". PeoPlaid. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
- ^ "Pogi Lazatin proclaimed as Angeles City Mayor anew". Central Luzon Business Week. May 12, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
- ^ ievarona0257 (May 10, 2022). "Pogi Lazatin defends post as mayor of Angeles City". Rappler. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ CIO, Angeles (October 7, 2021). "Mayor Lazatin runs for re-election; unveils platform and Team Lazatin slate". Punto! Central Luzon. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
- ^ admin. "ANGELES CITY MAYOR TO RUN FOR CONGRESSMAN IN 2025". Journal Daily News Online. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
- ^ Vega, Chito de la (October 12, 2019). "Angeles City shuts down Chinese-operated POGO firm". Rappler. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
- ^ jsitchon0312 (March 12, 2024). "Armed men threaten to shoot Rappler reporter, broadcaster covering demolition in Angeles City". Rappler. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Tecson, Zorayda (May 31, 2023). "Angeles City makes headway in reducing plastic wastes". Philippine News Agency.
- ^ Philippine Daily Post. "AC gov't gets P1M assistance in the 2024 Walang Gutom Awards - Philippine Daily Post". www.philippinedailypost.com/. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
- ^ Silverio, Frederick (March 16, 2022). "Angeles City's plastic for rice project a hit". The Manila Times. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
- ^ Cayabyab, Charlene A. (September 3, 2024). "Angeles City gov't opens ₱41M reformation center". SunStar Publishing Inc. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
- ^ Silverio, Frederick (September 6, 2024). "Angeles City opens P41M rehab center". The Manila Times. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
- ^ Cayabyab, Charlene A. (October 2, 2024). "Mayor Lazatin files COC for Congress". SunStar Publishing Inc. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
- ^ Vega, Chito de la (October 11, 2024). "New positions, but still same families in Pampanga politics". Rappler. Retrieved October 11, 2024.