Lobregat claims Climaco is strongest

bet for Zambo City Mayor in 2013 polls,
Fabian out of “ Man Junto Junto Kita” ?

Mayor Celso L. Lobregat   said on May 7 that Congresswoman Maria Isabelle C. Climaco is the strongest candidate for Mayor in 2013 poll election in this city, in effect leaving out Congressman Erico Basilio Fabian, who since last year has already announced that he is running for mayor.

All three elective officials are of the Laban ng Demokratikong Filipino (LDP) although they sort of parted ways in the May 10, 2010  Election where Climaco joined the Liberal Party in Support of now elected President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.

In that election, Fabian joined the Nationalista Party and rallied under presidential candidate Manny Villar.

Lobregat did not join any other party in 2010 and did not openly support any presidential candidate. He instead clung on to the LDP plus an added political group called Adelante Zamboanga that is chaired by his brother Joemar.

After that May 10 election, they sort of, allied themselves with the LDP whose battle cry in Zamboanga is “Man junto junto kita” (Let us stay together).

The mayor is serving his last and third term as city’s chief executive and has plans to run for Congress in the May 2013 elections.

He will run for Congress in the district now occupied by Climaco who is serving her second term and open to running for a third term.

In a radio interview,  Lobregat said that  his statement  is not a manifestation of preference and   the result of the consultation conducted last Thursday  between the three of them  Congresswoman Climaco of District I and Congressman Erico Basilio Fabian  of District II .

If Climaco will choose to run for a third term in District I, she will have to confront Lobregat who wants to occupy her position in congress.

With Climaco running for mayor, Lobregat is confident that he will win as representative for District I.

Lobregat said that Climaco has to make an ultimate -final decision to run for mayor of Zamboanga City considering that she is not only representative of district I but also occupies a higher position in government but people are asking her to run.

“The people are asking her to run, “Lobregat said.

On the other hand, another party mate, Congressman Erico Basilio Fabian is on his third term and his only option is to run for mayor in the 2014 local elections.

Unless Fabian decides otherwise (like retiring which he hinted several times), he will be confronting Climaco for the position of Mayor of Zamboanga.

There is also the  possibility of Zamboanga del Norte former Congressman Romeo Jalosjos running also for Mayor of Zamboanga. The Jalosjos family is from Zamboanga City.

Lobregat’s brother, Joemar has already, sort of, announced his candidacy to run for Congressman of District II, since Fabian can.t run for the position anymore.

Last month, Joemar filed for a change of residence, with the Comelec Office,  from district I in the City Proper to Pasobolong in District II where the family manages a mango farm.

While the position of Mayor for Zamboanga in 2013 will be hotly contested, as some political pundits say;  the incumbent mayor  stands to benefit most if the uncumbent congresswoman for District I (Climaco) at his urging decides to run for another position.

And if Joemar wins in District II and Celso wins in District I, the Lobregat family will have effective control of Zamboanga’s link to the Manila government in the next several years.