Samuel S. Co

Samuel S. Co or Sammy Co is a mayor of Pagadian City, Republic of the Philippines from 2004-2013. He had also served as city councilor of Pagadian for three terms.^[1]

Political life

Samuel S. Co first won the Mayoralty position of Pagadian on June 30, 2004, succeeding Henry Dogon. He won the reelection in both 2007 and 2010 which awarded him his second and third terms of office. His reelection in 2010 gave him 60,452 or 93.99% of the entire local voting population, while Crisostomo T. Lagare of Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino got only 3,863 or 6.01% of the votes.^[2]

After three terms of his office as mayor, in May 2013, Co ran for a congressional seat for Zamboanga del Sur District 1 under the coalition of Liberal Party. However, he lost to Victor Yu, who is now in his third and final term. His wife, Priscilla, also lost the mayoralty race to Romeo Pulmones.

Regional Government Seat Transfer Issue

It was during his second term of office, in consortium with former Zamboanga del Sur Governor Aurora Enerio-Cerilles, that the transfer of the regional offices from then regional capital, Zamboanga City to Pagadian City commenced. The controversial order of the transfer was approved and ordered by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in November, 2004, in accordance of E.O. 429 issued by the late President Corazon C. Aquino on October 12, 1990 but had not been immediately implemented due to protests against the move initiated by affected employees and social, economic, and political parties.

The transfer showed a sudden development in the local economy manifested by the opening of Gaisano Capital Pagadian Mall in San Pedro District believed. However, a sudden decline in sales and market interest caused the weakening of the local economy.

Rehabilitation of Domestic Airport

He initiated the move to rehabilitate, improve, and expand the only air portal in the Province of Zamboanga del Sur, the Pagadian City Domestic Airport in Muricay, Pagadian City, Republic of the Philippines. The airport is a major entry point to the region for tourists from Manila and Cebu and is now served by the country's two biggest airlines, Cebu Pacific and AirPhil Express.

City Commercial Center Mall

The sudden decline of consumer interest on malls was downplayed by the local government in the establishment of the City Commercial Center Mall or C3 Mall. Though the project has been criticized as a large investment without any potential revenue increase in the near future, Mayor Co received a number of citations from his fellow City Mayors from all over the Philippines for exploring a potential market changer in the future.

Aman Futures Controversy

Mayor Samuel Co was one of those who invested their money to Aman Futures Trading. He was however, the first to complain against Aman Futures for syndicated estafa. The authorities investigated a case against those involved in the trading scam, including Co. He, however, claimed that he was victimized by the said scam. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said that the evidences against those who involved in the scam can be reveal, saying "Samuel Co claimed that he was a victim, but we cannot close our eyes to the evidences presented." Despite the subsequent attempts to implicate him and the pending preliminary investigations, these are the unalterable facts:

Mayor Co revoked the business permit of Aman Futures, until it complied with the local government requirements for its particular type of business. Policemen serving the closure order were blocked by people lined up around the office who were waiting to invest. His constituents begged him not to implement the said order. Later, he was informed by police and justice authorities that in the absence of a complainant or assertion of damage, the alleged investment company could not be shut down.

With all the foregoing and other such actions, Mayor Co has clearly shown that he has been on the forefront of the challenge to the said company. His repeated challenges failed, however, due to the lack of complainants to support his suspicions that the company was engaged in illegal activities. The preliminary investigation by the Department of Justice eventually commenced in Pagadian City on December 17, 2012. Pagadian Mayor Samuel Co swore to his complaint affidavit and respondent executives of Aman Futures committed, through their counsels, to submit their counter affidavits on 27 December 2012.

Meanwhile, as the hearing was ongoing, hundreds of people gathered outside City Hall to demand justice for the mayor. According to the citizens gathered outside, the counterpart charges filed by the National Bureau of Investigation against Mayor Samuel Co are merely political attacks against him by rival Zamboanga del Sur Governor Antonio Cerilles. Both are allegedly running for office this 2013 in different parties.

Mayor Co ran for the position of Congressman in the 1st District of Zamboanga del Sur under Liberal Party, but lost to incumbent Victor Yu (of the NPC, who will be having his third term as congressman). Likewise, his wife Ilang-ilang lost to outgoing Vice-Mayor Romeo Pulmones in the mayoralty post. The subsequent loss of Sammy Co and his wife in the government positions was perhaps the result of the controversy brought by Aman Ventures.

Personal life

Mayor Co is married to Ilang-Ilang (née Fernandez), also known for political origins. He has been active as a businessman through his franchise of Greenwich Pizza and his restaurant named after his wife, Café Ilang-Ilang.

Political terms

• 2010-2013 - Mayor
• 2007-2010 - Mayor
• 2004-2007 - Mayor
• 2001-2004 - City Councilor
• 1998-2001 - City Councilor

Radio Program

Pagadian City Mayor's Report

See also

• Pagadian City
• City Commercial Center
• Gaisano Capital Pagadian

Notes

External links

• mypagadian.com
• pagadian.org
• Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper & Television