Val Chiong Explains Retirement Plan

City of Naga Mayor Valdemar Chiong has explained that his plan to retire in 2016 is for him to rest, and for anything else like health reasons.

“I have to give it to myself to rest,” said Chiong in an interview with MetroCebu News.

The third-term mayor denied reports that he is retiring because of his ailing knee, which had recently undergone a laser operation. “No. that’s not true,” he said while chuckling.

Chiong said his partymates have already agreed to support his daughter, Atty. Kristine Chiong when she runs for mayor in 2016. His incumbent vice mayor, Delfin Señor, he said, is also reportedly supportive of the idea, that instead of contesting Kristine, he will just be running for councilor. Asked if his decision is final, Chiong admitted there may be changes in the next few years, but for the moment he is more excited to retire than running for another public post.

The 53-year-old mayor of the then town of Naga, had served as councilor for years before he became  his brother-mayor, Ferdinand’s vice mayor in the 2004 elections. Ferdinand did of cancer in 2006, and Val Chiong succeeded him.

Not to mention, it was also in the incumbent mayor’s term, in 2008, when Naga became a city. He was also the mayor when Naga was stripped of its cityhood in November 2009, when the Supreme Court issued an order declaring Naga’s cityhood as null and void along with 16 other new cities.

Photo above: City of Naga Valdemar Chiong shared the reason of his plan to retire is to give himself time to rest. When asked if his decision is final, he said that he is more excited as of the moment to retire than running for another public post. (Contributed photo)