Cainta Mayor Kit Nieto takes medical leave after artery blockages

MANILA, Philippines — Cainta Mayor Kit Nieto is taking a medical break after doctors discovered multiple blockages in all his major arteries, he announced Monday, January 26.

Nieto was hospitalized Sunday after complaining of severe chest pains, according to a statement posted by his Facebook page. An angiogram revealed the blockages, and he remains under close medical monitoring with restricted movement, according to the post.

The mayor and his family are deciding on what medical procedure or surgery to pursue.

Vice Mayor Ace Bernardo Servillon will serve as acting mayor starting Monday until Nieto recovers and can return to his post.

All of Nieto's scheduled activities, including events leading to his birthday on January 31, have been postponed.

"He conveys his good wishes to the people of Cainta and promises to return as soon as he gets a clean bill of health from his doctors," the announcement said.

Nieto is serving his fourth term as Cainta mayor. He first led the municipality from 2013 to 2022 before serving as municipal administrator under his wife, former Mayor Ellen Nieto, from 2022 to 2024. He returned as mayor in 2025 after winning the midterm elections.