Friday, February 23, 2007 LDP-Zambo bares official line up for May polls By Ulysses Israel & Bong Garcia
MAYOR Celso Lobregat announced Thursday the complete lineup of the official candidates of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), gearing for two seats in the House, vice mayorship, and 16 councilors for two electoral districts in Zamboanga City.
He revealed during a press conference that he has chosen Councilor Mila Velasquez as her running mate after much consultation and prayers.
The local LDP party members held a caucus last Wednesday night to make the final selection for the council slate and for congressional seats, he said.
The official candidates were selected by LDP members through secret balloting from among the aspirants who were asked to speak before the directorate.
For congressional bets, Representative Erbie Fabian, the incumbent lone representative, would be seeking reelection for District II while Vice Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco will be running as candidate for the congressional seat for District I.
The city has two electoral districts, giving the constituents the opportunity to select representatives for the House of Representatives and for the local legislative council.
The candidates for councilors for District I are as follows: Rudy Lim, Antonio Orendain, Jr., Gerky Velasco, Lawyer Manny Luna, Vic Alvarez, Mario Roca, Lynette Abaro, and Cezar Jimenez, Jr.
For District II, the six incumbent councilors that will seek reelection are Rey Candido, Benjamin Guingona, Roel Natividad, Lawyers Kim Elago and Asbi Edding, and former youth leader Cezar Itturalde. The two new entrants to the council slate for District II are Eddie Saavedra and Lilia Nuño.
Lobregat said the LDP members supported his decision in choosing Velasquez, who was a media practitioner before being elected as councilor and served as majority floor leader in the City Council, to be the vice mayoralty candidate of the LDP.
"The LDP has given me the full trust and confidence in choosing my running mate," he said.
He said he expects Velasquez to perform "very well" if elected as vice mayor of the city.
Velasquez said she is elated to be chosen as Lobregat's running mate and that she is ready to face the rigors of election campaign. She was the second lady candidate chosen by Lobregat. Vice Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco was his first running mate.
"I'm very glad that he (Lobregat) finally chose me after consulting with the people and even praying to Ma'am Caling (the late Mayor Maria Clara Lobregat, Celso's mother) in seeking guidance in choosing his running mate," she said.
The mayor said he has chosen Velasquez since the lady councilor can help the LDP through the women votes and that "she is a loyal party member and always follow party decision."
"I have to do my best. This is a new challenge in my political life," Velasquez said.
Lobregat said: "We have gone through difficult times in choosing our candidates" Lobregat admitted after the selection but stressed that the thorough process paid off as all candidates selected are all highly qualified, winnable and represent the multi-sectoral groups of the city.
"We will work for 20-0," they all said in their individual speeches after the mayor's announcement.
The secret balloting scheme in the selection of the candidates to fill up the vacant slots for the Council in both districts is a democratic process practiced by the LDP since the time of the late Mayor Maria Clara Lobregat. Three out of the ten contenders to fill up the 7 vacant slots for the Council in District 1 were eliminated. They were San Jose barangay chair Jaime Rebollos, Tumaga barangay Chair Rodolfo Bayot and former Councilor Maximo Enriquez Jr. Like a true gentlemen, the three accepted the verdict and assured their continued support and loyalty to the party.
For District II, former dad Edmundo Rodriguez did not make it in the final selection but, likewise, he too expressed full support to the decision of the majority.
"We will work hard to remain together until the very end," Lobregat told his party mates. He also called on all LDP members to shun junking and to help fellow members who are lagging behind.
"Let's work for 20-0!" Lobregat declared, an affirmation that is set to become the party's battle cry. (With SE)
