Mayor Reluya: We turned down US offer of political asylum; my son will be my running mate

The Reluya family: the late Councilor Ricardo “Nonoy” Reluya, son Ricci Regen Reluya, and Mayor Lakambini “Neneth” Reluya. | Contributed photo

SAN FERNANDO, Cebu, Philippines — Mayor Lakambini “Neneth” Reluya claimed during her campaign kickoff on Friday, March 29, that she and her family turned down a US government offer of political asylum so that they could continue to serve the people of San Fernando town.

Mayor Lakambini, who is running for reelection, also said that her son Ricci Regen G. Reluya, would be her running mate and would run for the town’s vice mayoral position in the May 13, 2019 elections. 

Ricci Regen will replace his father, the late Councilor Ricardo “Nonoy” Reluya, who was among the three persons killed when the mayor’s van was ambushed in Talisay City last January 22, 2019. 

Read more: Bloody night in Talisay City claims 4 lives, including town mayor’s husband

Mayor Reluya said that the US government offered them a political asylum, but they refused and opted to continue serving the people of San Fernando. 

Read more: Mayor Reluya speaks out, calls husband’s ambush-slay a ‘barbaric act’ and vows she will not be cowed

“Giingnan ko ni Ricci nga dili na ang plano niya (Nonoy) para nato. Pagkahuman sa nahitabo, ato diay byaan ang San Fernando?” Reluya said. 

(Ricci told me that this is not what he planned for us. After what happened, we’re going to leave San Fernando?)

Some supporters cried as Reluya talked about how she survived the ambush. 

“Nabuhi ko kay iya giprotektahan para ninyo,” Reluya said. 

(I survived because he (Nonoy) protected me for you.)

Reluya also clarified that they are not connected to illegal drugs, saying that it is just a “black propaganda.”/dbs