Nerissa Corazon Cortes Soon-Ruiz (born October 31, 1956) is a Filipino politician who currently serves as City Councilor of Mandaue since 2019.[1]

Nerissa Corazon Soon-Ruiz
City Councilor of Mandaue
Assumed office
June 30, 2019
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Cebu's 6th congressional district
In office
June 30, 2001 – June 30, 2010
Preceded byEfren T. Herrera
Succeeded byGabriel Luis R. Quisumbing
In office
June 30, 1992 – June 30, 1998
Preceded byVicente L. dela Serna
Succeeded byEfren T. Herrera
Personal details
BornNerissa Corazon Cortes Soon-Ruiz
(1956-10-31) October 31, 1956 (age 68)
Mandaue, Cebu
NationalityFilipino
Political partyPDP–Laban (Present)
One Cebu (Local party)
Other political
affiliations
KAMPI
Residence(s)Mandaue City, Cebu
Alma materUniversity of the Visayas
OccupationPhysician, politician

Life

edit

Nerissa Corazon Cortes Soon-Ruiz was born on October 31, 1956, in Mandaue, Cebu, where she still resides to this day. She took up medicine, graduated from the University of the Visayas in Cebu City.[2] Nerissa was previously married to ex-DILG official Joselito Holganza Ruiz and had 3 children together.

Career

edit

Prior to her political career, Soon-Ruiz is a physician by profession, qualifying in 1991. She ran and won as a member of the House of Representatives of the Philippines, representing the Sixth District of Cebu from 1992 to 1998, and from 2001 to 2010.[1]

In 2016, Soon-Ruiz ran for Vice Governor under One Cebu Party, with Gubernatorial Candidate and former GSIS President Winston Garcia as her tandem for the 2016 Philippine Elections, but both lost to Governor Hilario Davide III and Vice Governor Agnes Magpale.[3] She ran for City Councilor of Mandaue under the lineup of Jonas Cortes in 2019, and was elected.[1]

Suspension

edit

In 2020, Soon-Ruiz was suspended for 90 days for pending 34 counts of graft and malversation by the Sandiganbayan over allegations of her Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) allocation to fake non-governmental organizations while serving as a congresswoman from 2007 to 2010.[4][5]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c "Bzzzzz: Soon-Ruiz and Cuenco, former House members, may run for city councilor". SunStar Cebu. October 10, 2018. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  2. ^ Miasco, May B. (December 7, 2018). "UV: A century of love and service". The Freeman. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
  3. ^ Basilan, Rebelander S. (October 12, 2015). "'WinNer' of One Cebu launched". SunStar Cebu. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  4. ^ "Mandaue City councilor suspended over graft charges". Rappler. January 9, 2020. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
  5. ^ Seares, Pachico A. (January 12, 2020). "Seares: Nery Soon-Ruiz suspension didn't come at a good time. Two counts". SunStar Cebu. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
House of Representatives of the Philippines
Preceded by Representative, Sixth District of Cebu
1992–1998
Succeeded by
Efren T. Herrera
Preceded by
Efren T. Herrera
Representative, Sixth District of Cebu
2001–2010
Succeeded by