Now that Angeles City Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. has officially filed his Certificate of Candidacy (COC) for Pampanga First District Representative, Felix, the resident cat of the Mayor’s Office, is also preparing to move to Congress.
Felix, a five-year old “Puspin,” has been serving as Rat Control Officer of the Angeles City Mayor’s Office for two terms now, having been in office since Lazatin was first elected as City Mayor back in 2019.
As a kitten, Felix was rescued at the premises of the Angeles City Hall by City Veterinary Office personnel, Eder Pasamonte.
On August 7, 2019, one month after Lazatin assumed office as City Mayor, Felix was adopted by Executive Assistant IV Reina Manuel to take care of the rat problem at the Mayor’s Office.
Ever since Felix assumed office, the rat problem at the Mayor’s Office has been solved.
Felix sleeps in the Mayor’s Office pantry and does not cause any disturbance to day-to-day office operations. He spends most of the morning asleep and only comes out in the afternoon to stretch his legs in the Conference Room.
As the official “Puspin” of the Mayor’s Office, Felix is well taken care of, having been neutered by the City Veterinary Office and receiving regular vaccination.
Under the Lazatin administration, the City Government of Angeles has taken great strides in promoting and protecting animal welfare in the City.
The landmark Ordinance No. 668, s-2023, or the Animal Welfare and Protection Code of Angeles City, was approved on February 28, 2023 under the Lazatin administration.
Among other things, the Animal Welfare and Protection Code calls for the establishment of the ‘no-kill’ Angeles City Dog Pound and Animal Shelter, which was inaugurated in July 2023.
The Angeles City Dog Pound and Animal Shelter houses stray animals before they are put up for re-homing or adoption.
Should Lazatin emerge victorious in the coming 2025 National and Local Elections, Felix is among the long-time Lazatin staffers who will be making the move to Congress.
Expected to join Felix in the move are members of the ‘Lazatin Senior Staff,’ majority of whom have been working alongside the Lazatin family for almost two decades, including Mina Cabiles, Irish Llego, Michael Lising, Anneleen Sugui, Mary Jane Calimquim, and Von Ryan Sugui.
IC Calaguas, who used to be Tarzan Lazatin’s Chief of Staff, said Felix is expected to continue his duty as Rat Control Officer at the office of soon-to-be-elected Cong Pogi, who, as of date, seems to be unopposed in the First District of Pampanga.
Also part of the Lazatin Senior Staff are Ma. Theresa ‘Anne’ Salonga, who is currently serving as a Kagawad in Barangay Salapungan; Sharmaine Gonzales, Alain Carlo Merano; and Jimmy Navarro.