Cebuana actress wins seat in Cordova town council

CEBU, Philippines —  Independent Cordova town councilor-elect Natileigh Marie Therese “Nats” Sitoy was proclaimed yesterday at the Cordova Municipal Session Hall.

Sitoy, a neophyte in politics, said despite being the only candidate from the opposition, she vows to work and cooperate with the administration of mayor-elect Cesar Suan.

Suan’s Team Asenso almost had a landslide victory as seven of the eight councilors belong on his team including vice mayor-elect Boyet Tago who defeated incumbent Vice Mayor Ximgil Dino “Em-em” Sitoy.

The other seven winning councilors are Jerome Lepiten, Larenz “Lar” Lagon, Remar Baguio, Jose “Joy” Wahing, Teodorico “Dodong” Casquejo Jr., Lemuel Pogoy and Chito Bentazal.

“I am grateful and at the same time scared kay grabe ang pressure sa akoa but with the help of my supporters they gave me strength. Na realized pud nako nga this is not about party or alliances but this is public service,” said the Cebuana actress.

Nats is the niece of incumbent Mayor Mary Therese Sitoy-Cho being the daughter of the late former Cordova mayor Arleigh Sitoy. She is the granddaughter of former mayor and the late Presidential Adviser on Legislative Affairs, Secretary Adelino Sitoy.

Although she ran as an independent candidate, the Cebuana actress said she can still work with the Suan administration and that she will not be just an opposition for the sake of opposing.

The young Sitoy said that if given a chance she would like to be the chairman of the committee on youth and women.

She said she wanted to focus on the mental health awareness of the young especially with the ongoing pandemic.

“Ang sa youth man gud ang majority sa atong population ganahan man gud ko nga mas ma involve sila atong environment and on mental health issues. Wala kaayo ni nato nahatagn og pagtagad,” she added.

“To all who have chosen me, salamat kaayo sa pagsalig sa ako. Dili ko mabutang sa aning position kung wala mo motuo sa among causa.To the staff and youth, akong promise ninyo, dili masayang ang inyong hago ug pagsuporta sa akoa. Dako kog utang kabubut-on kaninyo,” the young politician posted in her Facebook post.

She also thanked her family and her daughter for their continued support and love.

“To my fellow elected, congratulations and may we always remember that our responsibility is not to any party but to the people that we will serve, ang mga Cordovanhons,” she added.

Nats is also the only Sitoy who won the last election in Cordova.

Those who lost include Sitoy-Cho, her brother Martin Adelino who run as an independent candidate for sixth district representative and her cousin, Em-Em, the son of reelected Lapu-Lapu City Vice Mayor Celedonio “Celsi” Sitoy. — GMR (FREEMAN)