The owner of a taxi operator in Metro Manila,Suntay heads the Philippine National Taxi Operators Association. He is also the founder of LPG chain Cleanfuel.
Jesus Manuel Angel Cabochan Suntay was born on November 15,1970 in Quezon City to Angelo Abad Santos Suntay and Carolina Cabochan.[1] His parents were businesspeople. His father was a linotypist and an executive at A. Soriano Corporation. His mother is part of the Cabochan family who owns the El Oro Engravers.[2][3]
Suntay was encouraged by his father to pursue a career on computers during his high school years but the younger Suntay decided to become a lawyer and businessman.[3]
He then attended the De La Salle University for his pre-law studies.[2] He graduated from San Beda College obtaining his law degree in 1996 and passing the bar examination the following year. He worked as an associate and partner lawyer but also started his own business ventures.[3]
Business career
Suntay around 1989 started Basic Taxi,a taxi business when he was still a freshman student at San Beda. He started with five second-hand units but grew to a fleet of 1,200 units.[2]
Suntay has promoted the usage liquified petroleum gas for taxis in the Philippines to combat rising prices of gasoline. He tested the conversion kit on five of his taxi units in 2004. He later acquired exclusive rights to sell auto LPG conversion kit from Tartarini in Italy. Shell installed a LPG conversion facility in his garage.[2]
He later established Cleanfuel in 2006 since large traditional petrol companies are unwilling to service LPG to small taxi operators.[2][3] As of 2022,Cleanfuel has 134 stations in Luzon and Visayas including those which are still being set up.[4]
Civic involvement
Suntay became president of Philippine National Taxi Operators Association. As head,he had to balance calling for fare increase amidst rising cost of fuel.[2] When carsharing service Uber entered the Philippines market,Suntay lobbied for it and similar services to get regulated.[5][6]
Political career
Suntay served as city councilor in Quezon City for its fourth district from 1998 to 2004 and from 2007 to 2016. He opted not to seek re-election as councilor in 2004 to ran as representative of Quezon City's 4th district.[7]
He was the longest serving majority leader in the Quezon City Council.[3] Known by he moniker 'Superman',he is known for using motif associated with the DC Comics superhero for his campaigning and imagery.[8][9][10]
Suntay ran again for the same position for the 2025 election under the United Nationalist Alliance.[1][13] Suntay has faced accusation of vote buying. He denies the claim which he says was allegedly filed by someone linked to incumbent congressman Rillo.[14][13] He won the election narrowly by roughly 200 votes,beating his rival incumbent congressman Marvin Rillo.
Personal life
Suntay is married to Maria Cecilia "Shiela" Guevarra with whom he has four children.[1][15] On April 21,2018,their son Renzo died by suicide at age 20 and was suffering from depression.[16]
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