21/10/2025
Mayor Latigo was the nickname of Colonel Meliton Geronimo, a retired Philippine Air Force officer and former mayor of Baras, Rizal, who was known for using a whip to fight crime.
His life story was later turned into a 1991 movie titled Mayor Latigo, where he was portrayed by actor Eddie Garcia.
Key details about Mayor Latigo:
His name:
His real name was Meliton C. Geronimo.
Origin of his nickname: He earned the moniker "Mayor Latigo" (which means "Mayor Whip" in Tagalog) due to his unique and controversial habit of carrying and using a whip in his crackdown on dr*g dealing, corruption, and other criminal activities.
Political career:
He served as the mayor of Baras, Rizal, and was known for his strong anti-crime campaigns.
His political career had its challenges; at one point, he was disqualified from office, leading to a standoff at the town hall in 1982. He was eventually successful in winning and serving as mayor for 14 years.
Martial arts background:
Geronimo was also a grandmaster and founder of the Filipino martial art known as Sikaran, a type of foot fighting.
Movie adaptation:
His life was immortalized in the 1991 movie Mayor Latigo, starring veteran actor Eddie Garcia. The movie highlighted his reputation for courage and integrity, as he fought against widespread corruption and criminality.