From guns to bible to mayoral seat, Southern Leyte’s new mayor officially starts his new career.
In a remarkable and unprecedented shift from religious and military service to public office, Rev. Fr. Jason Ortizo, a Roman Catholic priest and retired police general, formally assumed his post as mayor of San Francisco town in Southern Leyte on Tuesday, July 1.
The leadership transition was marked by a symbolic turnover ceremony held at the San Francisco Municipal Gym on June 30.
Outgoing mayor Benedicta Tiazon, who served three consecutive terms totaling nine years, handed over the symbolic key of responsibility to her son. Tiazon, while concluding her tenure as mayor, unsuccessfully ran for vice mayor in the recent local elections.
Meanwhile, Mayor Ortizo, 56, is no stranger to leadership and service.
He retired from the Philippine National Police (PNP) in October 2024 with the rank of brigadier general. Prior to his retirement, he served as the Director for Chaplaincy at Camp Crame, ministering to the spiritual needs of police personnel nationwide.
His background is equally rooted in the Church—he was ordained a priest under the Diocese of Maasin and spent 25 years in religious ministry before entering politics.
He officially took his oath of office as mayor before Supreme Court Associate Justice Mydas Marquez on June 26, 2025, at the Supreme Court in Manila.
His rise to the mayoralty has drawn national attention, being possibly the first time in Philippine history that a man has served as a Catholic priest, a police general, and now, an elected mayor.
“Joining politics was not in my dreams, and I, too, can’t believe that a priest and a police general is now a mayor. This is the first time,” Ortizo told The Manila Times in an interview following his oath-taking.
In his inaugural address, Mayor Ortizo extended a message of unity and called on the people of San Francisco to work together regardless of political affiliations.
He laid out his vision to uplift the town through improved health care services, enhanced water supply systems, and the development of local tourism to stimulate economic growth and job opportunities for residents.
San Francisco is a fourth-class municipality with 16 barangays, many of which are reliant on agriculture and fishing. Ortizo pledged to initiate programs that will empower these communities and elevate their living conditions.
However, Ortizo’s entry into politics also comes with ecclesiastical consequences. Bishops Precioso Cantillas of the Diocese of Maasin and Oscar Jaime Florencio of the Military Ordinariate of the Philippines have confirmed that Ortizo was suspended from his priestly ministry upon filing his certificate of candidacy. In accordance with Canon Law, he can no longer celebrate Mass or administer sacraments.
Despite this, Mayor Ortizo remains committed to serving the people guided by the principles he learned both as a priest and a public servant.
His transition from the pulpit and uniform to a mayor’s seat is a compelling story of vocation, transformation, and leadership. As San Francisco enters a new chapter under his leadership, residents await the realization of his promises and the impact of his unique blend of discipline, faith, and service.
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