Siocon, officially the Municipality of Siocon (; Subanen: Benwa Siocan; Chavacano: Municipalidad de Siocan; ), is a municipality in the province of Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 51,239 people.
Local industry includes the Canatuan mine.
History In 1955, the following barrios were created: Lituban - from the sitios of Lituban, Pangian, Quibanbanan and Tabayo; Tibangao - from the sitios of Tibangao, Daanlawas, Mangcabing, Cuab and Matiag; Balagunan - from the sitios of Baliguian, Mamad and Balagunan Grande; and Malipot - from the sitios of Malipot, Siay, Kanibungan, Baliangan and Pisawak.
In May 2003, the municipality was attacked by 150 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Abu Sayyaf guerrillas. The attack commenced at 12 a.m. on May 4. A small group of policemen led by 27-year-old police senior inspector Ranie Planilla Hachuela defended Siocon during the assault, which lasted nine hours. Hachuela managed to rally his men in putting up stiff resistance against the wave of attacks by the rebels trying to overrun the municipal hall, police station, and hospital. For this reason he was awarded the Medal of Valor for risking his life and for rescuing the town mayor and his family.
The rebels created an intricate plan of securing the entry and exit points of the Poblacion (town center). Responding government troops were ambushed as they tried to aid the outnumbered policemen.
That frightening feeling was expressed by Wiljun "Pido" Cubero as he narrated how the rebels stormed the municipal hall and fire station right next to their house at Micubo's compound.
Thirteen of the 150 rebels were killed, including Jairullah Hassan (aka Commander Hairon of the MILF) who headed the attack.
Eleven government troops and 25 civilians also lost their lives in the assault, including two seminarians. The public market was burned down, while civilians were taken out of their homes to be used as human shields as rebels withdrew. Some hostages were released hours later, while other strong men were held for days as they were tasked to carry wounded rebels through the thick forest in the municipality of Sibuco.
The day after the attack, MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu expressed that it was a show of force by the MILF and Abu Sayyaf within the area.
Geography
Barangays Siocon is politically subdivided into 26 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.
Andres Micubo Jr. (Balili) Balagunan Bucana Bulacan Candiz Datu Sailela Dionisio Riconalla Jose P. Brillantes Sr. (Old Lituban) Latabon Makiang Malambuhangin Malipot Manaol Mateo Francisco Matiag New Lituban Pangian Pisawak Poblacion S. Cabral Santa Maria Siay Suhaile Arabi Tabayo Tagaytay Tibangao
Climate
Demographics
Economy
Government Mayors of the Municipality of SioconDionisio E. Riconalla, Justiniano P. Miranda, Gregorio Alano, Genaro Campaner, Andres L. Micubo, Sr., Angel B. Brillantes, Bernardo B. Cabral, Isabelo G. Torrefranca, Bonifacio Canama, Jesus R. Pastor, Perliza R. Soriano, Julius S. Lobrigas, Ceasar C. Soriano, Siocon's local government structure is composed of one mayor, one vice mayor and eight councilors, named as Sangguniang Bayan members, all elected through popular vote. Three ex officio members are added to the Sangguniang Bayan with one representing Siocon's 26 Barangay Captains being the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) President, one representing Siocon's 26 Barangay Youth Council Presidents being the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation President, and one representing a group of indigenous peoples of Siocon being the Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR). Each official, with the exemption of the ABC and SK Presidents and IPMR, is elected publicly to a 3-year term and can be re-elected up to 3 terms in succession.
Education
Most of its 26 barangays have their respective public elementary schools and only few have public secondary schools. In the town proper has its elementary and secondary public schools and a state university.
Elementary Siocon CS Seventh Day Adventist ES Balagonan ES Bliss ES Bulacan ES Candiz ES Canatuan ES Cuyan ES Hatib Asamuddin ES Lituban ES Malipot ES Ma. Ybarsabal ES Makiang ES Malambuhangin ES Matiag ES Pisawak ES Sta. Maria ES S. Cabral ES Tibangao ES Latabon ES Mambong ES JP Brillantes ES Lu Tian Po ES Tabayo ES Tibangao ES Panubigan PS Paduan ES Jolito Camatura ES Imam Nasaron Haron PS Kono Mais ES
Integrated Bucana IS Siay IS Pedro Torio IS M.D. Saladores Maharadja Asim IS C.Callao IS
Secondary Siocon National Science High School Santa Maria National High School Canatuan National High School Siay Integrated School Makiang National High School Julian Soriano Memorial Comprehensive High School Celestino T. Montano Sr. National High School
Tertiary Jose Rizal Memorial State University – Siocon Florita Soriano College
Notable personalities
Jonathan "Lightning" Taconing (b. 1987) - Filipino boxer
References
External links Siocon Profile at PhilAtlas.com Official Website [ Philippine Standard Geographic Code] Philippine Census Information