ILOILO City – “This is the best decision I will make in my life. And this is the best gift for my 50th birthday next week.”
Councilor Plaridel Nava officially tendered his resignation as member of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP).
In his resignation letter dated Aug. 22, 2023 addressed to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Nava cited personal and health reasons.
His resignation takes effect on Sept. 1.
During the SP regular session yesterday, Nava, through a privilege speech, also formally informed his colleagues about his decision.
Nava said he has lost his identity and sense of purpose. He has also reached the conclusion that politics is not good for him and his family.
“Further, public service will just belittle my integrity, my honesty, my probity as a person who always brings the voice of the people in this August body,” he added.
But Nava told fellow councilors he was hopeful of a better city council.
“We fought, we argued, we almost had fistfights. Tempers flared in the city council not for personal reason but with utmost desire to improve the state of our city council,” he added.
The city councilor added he would be leaving the SP with pride and honor that he had given his best to perform his duties and responsibilities.
“I have voiced out the will of the people, defended their interest and welfare. I hope you can still have the courage to say ‘no’ when it is necessary, the courage to speak for the people and stand for the people. This is our legacy to them. I hope I have made one. I hope you will do the same,” he told his colleagues.
Nava is recommending Sumakwel Cordero Nava Jr., his brother and partymate under political party PROMDI (Progressive Movement for Devolution of Initiatives), to fill up the vacancy in the city council that his resignation would create.
He thanked the SP staff, all his staff and his family who were emotional while he was delivering his privilege speech.
Nava was elected councilor in 2010 and served for three consecutive terms or a total of nine years until 2019.
He ran unsuccessfully for vice mayor in the 2019 elections and in last year’s polls again ran for a seat in the council. He won./PN
