Carmelo Lazatin Jr.

Carmelo Gurion Lazatin Jr. (; born August 28, 1969), also known as Pogi Lazatin, is a Filipino politician and businessman currently serving as the representative of Pampanga's first district since 2025, having previously served as the 34th mayor of Angeles City from 2019 to 2025.

Having won the 2025 Philippine House of Representatives elections unopposed. He succeeded his half-brother, Carmelo Lazatin II, currently serving as the 35th mayor of Angeles City.

Early life and education Pogi was born on August 28, 1969, in Angeles City to then-businessman Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin Sr. and Iluminada Gurion Lazatin. He is an alumnus of Angeles University Foundation, where he earned his Bachelor of Business Management degree. He then proceeded to Republic Central Colleges to pursue a Bachelor of Science, Major in Business Administration. Then he continued his education at the same institution, earning both a Master in Business Administration and a Master in Public Administration.

Mayor of Angeles City (2019–2025)

In 2018, Lazatin announced that he would run for mayor of Angeles City under Partido Federal ng Pilipinas with Maria Vicenta Vega-Cabigting as his running mate. He was elected for the first time in 2019 with half a thousand votes and re-elected in 2022 under Kapanalig at Kambilan ning Memalen Pampanga, securing his position with over a thousand votes—the highest in the city’s history, winning in all clustered precincts across the city’s 33 barangays.

In October 2019, during his first term, Lazatin ordered the closure of "Golden Build Limited, Incorporated," a Chinese-operated Philippine offshore gaming operators firm. The company was operating illegally in Angeles City without a business permit and failing to pay taxes for its operations.

In May 2020, Lazatin, with assistance from the National Bureau of Investigation and the Food and Drug Administration, shut down an illegal Chinese pharmacy. The majority of the patients at this unauthorized medical facility were Chinese employees of a POGO, located within a 300-hectare residential resort.

On May 31, 2023, Lazatin most famous project, the "Walang Plastikan: Plastik Palit Bigas Project," became a national finalist and was honored by President Bongbong Marcos Jr. at Malacañang Palace. The project earned recognition for its innovative strategy in reducing hunger and enhancing environmental sustainability.

Lazatin inaugurated the Kanlungan ng Kabataan Reformation Center, in September 2024, a ₱41 million facility dedicated to rehabilitating homeless individuals and supporting youth in need of care and guidance.

On January 28, 2025, Lazatin unveiled the Angeleño Alerto 24/7 Mobile App - Personal On-call Guard Interface (POGI) by the computer information system (CBIS). This 24-hour emergency response mobile application is the first of its kind in the entire province of Pampanga and the whole Region III.

Congressman (2025–present)

On October 1, 2024, Lazatin submitted his Certificate of Candidacy (COC) for the 2025 Philippine midterm election to contest for the position of Pampanga's First District representative at the Commission on Elections.

Lazatin ran unopposed, securing his position as Pampanga's First District representative, succeeding his half-brother Carmelo Lazatin II, who was proclaimed as mayor-elect of Angeles City. Both Lazatin brothers assumed office on June 30, 2025.

Electoral history

Personal life Lazatin is married to Maria Tiffanee Lazatin and has three children, who are often seen supporting his public engagements. His grandfather, Rafael Lazatin, was also a former governor of Pampanga and mayor of Angeles City.