Puerto Princesa City Vice Mayor Maria Nancy Socrates officially filed her certificate of candidacy for mayor in the 2025 local elections on October 6 at the Edward S. Hagedorn Coliseum.
She is set to challenge incumbent City Mayor Lucilo Bayron, who is seeking re-election.
“Alam naman nating lahat na wala nang term si Mayor Bayron. Bilang ako naman ang nakasunod na vice mayor, I feel it is my responsibility, that it is my duty to offer myself para maging mayor,” Socrates said.
Socrates filed her candidacy at the City COMELEC office on Saturday, accompanied by her lineup, the team Serbisyong may Puso at Sinseridad (SPS).
The team is composed of members of the Lakas Christian-Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party, with three members from the Liberal Party (LP).
Her running mate for vice mayor is Peter “Jimbo” Maristela, who ran for mayor in the last election. The slate for city councilors includes Bong Magay, Jie Lao, Cesar Javarez, Junari Pinto, Vangie Carbonell-Aquino, Francis Lara, Dio de Guzman, Marvin Rodriguez, Cocoy Gabuco, and Pam Ponce De Leon-Garcia.
The incumbent city vice mayor reiterated to the media her firm belief that Bayron had reached his final term as mayor.
“Actually, questionable pa nga itong fourth term niya, talagang naniniwala ako na wala na siyang fourth term,” Socrates stated.
Bayron’s term as mayor of Puerto Princesa has faced several controversies. An important issue arose in 2017 when the Office of the Ombudsman ordered his dismissal due to charges of grave misconduct and serious dishonesty.
The case involved the hiring of his son for a contractual position within the city government, which was found to have been done through falsified documents.
Socrates also expressed her views on what she perceives as being excluded from many of the city government’s activities.
According to her, when invitations are extended, they are few and selective.
“Alam ko namang… napapansin ng public ang trato sa akin, na maraming activities ang city government na hindi ako imbitado (…) Mayroon din namang naiimbita, pero piling-pili, hindi lahat,” she said.
“Lalo na po yung bigayan ng allowances, since 2019, 2020, hindi na ako kasama diyan,” she stated.
Socrates stated that her decision to form her own party, SPS, was driven by the professional sidelining she experienced within the current administration. However, she clarified that there was no major personal conflict or disagreement with the government officials themselves.
While she commended the current administration’s efforts, she pointed out that certain city taxes and funds could be more effectively allocated to address pressing public concerns, such as employment, housing, emergency medical expenses, and children’s education.
Socrates is the third candidate to file for mayor of Puerto Princesa City in the upcoming elections, following Lucilo Bayron, who filed earlier the same day, and independent candidate Edmundo Katon, who submitted his candidacy on October 1.
