SAN Fernando Mayor Lakambini "Neneth" Reluya announced that her eldest son will replace her late husband, Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) president Ricardo Reluya Jr., as vice mayoral candidate for their slate.
Reluya made the announcement during the opening salvo of their campaign at the San Fernando Sports Gym on Friday afternoon.
The younger Reluya became the likely replacement following his father's death in a fatal ambush in Talisay City in January this year.
In her speech, the mayor admitted she had wanted to leave politics for good after what happened to her and to her husband.
She said it was her son who convinced her to continue running as it was her late husband's wish to see that their vision for San Fernando will continue.
"Giingnan ko ni Ricci nga 'Dili na plano ni Papa para nato kung igo ra nato biyaan ang San Fernando pagkahuman sa mga nahitabo'," she said, recalling the conversation she had with her son.
Ricci, who served as San Fernando's municipal administrator since her mother started her term in 2016, will be facing former town mayor Antonio "Abe" Canoy for the vice mayoral seat.
Canoy had been a bitter political rival for the incumbent mayor ever since she won her first election as town mayor back in 2004.
For this year's election, the incumbent mayor will be facing businessman Ruben Feliciano for the town's highest seat.