THE offspring of the so-called local “political giants” are clashing for the mayoralty race in the 2019 mid-term elections as first district Representative Celso Lobregat and Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar on Wednesday filed their respective certificates of candidacy (COC) before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) here.
Lobregat is the son of the late Mayor Maria Clara Lobregat, while Salazar is the niece of legendary Mayor Cesar Climaco who defeated the elder Lobregat for the lone seat in the then 1984 Batasan Pambansa.
Both Lobgregat and Salazar are on their second term of office.
The two, touted as the strong contenders in the mayoralty race, along with their party members and supporters accompanied by drum and lyres converged almost simultaneously at the Comelec office turning into a festival-like gathering at Villalobos Street, Zone 4.
Lobregat’s group locally known as the “Red Team,” who run under the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bansa (PDP-Laban), came from a mass at the Fort Pilar Shrine while Salazar’s group known as the “Pink Team,” who carried the banner of Partido Prosperidad y Amor para na Zamboanga (PAZ) came from the Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral.
The supporters of both camps chanted as the two political groups entered the Comelec office to submit their COCs.
The Red Team was the first to file their COCs at the ground floor of the Comelec office.
Lobregat said his party is an alliance of the PDP-Laban, Nacionalista Party, Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino and the local Adelante Zamboanga Party.
The Pink Team went straight to the second floor and waited for the red team to finish filing their COCs.
Salazar said PAZ is an alliance of the Liberal Party, United National Alliance, Nationalist Peoples Colation, Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, Agrupation of Political Parties, and Partido Pederal ng Pilipinas.
Lobregat described his candidacy for mayor as tough fight being an underdog saying his opponent “is using all government resources for her re-election.”
His running mate is lawyer and former city councilor Melchor Sadain.
Lobregat has picked his elder brother, Jomar, as the candidate for the congressional seat that he is vacating.
His candidate for second district representative is former representative Lilia Macrohon-Nuño.
The city council line up in the first district are as follows: incumbent Councilors Rodolfo Lim, Marxander Jaime Cabato, and Joselito Macrohon; former councilors Luis Biel III and Rogelio Valesco; Sinunuc barangay chairperson Pilarica Ledesma; Hadj Sandag; and businessman Khymer Olaso.
In the second district are: incumbent Councilors Benjamin Guingona IV, Miguel Alavar III, and Lilibeth Nuño; former councilor Vincent Paul Elago; mediaman Marlon Simbajon; Lumayang barangay councilor Frederick Atilano; Culianan barangay councilor Mark Saavedra; and businessman Richard Mariano.
“The interest of the city is above personal the interest,” Salazar said as she emerged from the Comelec office amid the chants of her supporters.
Salazar vowed to continue her program on security, health and education (SHE).
Salazar’s running mate is picked lawyer and incumbent Councilor Rommel Agan, the son of the later Mayor Vitaliano Agan.
Her candidate for congressmen in the first district is former Councilor Cesar Jimenez Jr. and incumbent Representative Manuel Jose Dalipe II in the second district.
The Pink Team council line-up in the first district are as follows: incumbent Councilors Cesar Jimenez Sr., Elbert Atilano and Josephine Pareja; San-Jose Gusu barangay chairperson Joel Esteban; Calarian barangay chairperson Elking Omaga; Engineer Al-Urao; businessmen Ricky Lim; and former priest Crisanto Dela Cruz of the Partido Pederal ng Pilipinas as guest candidate.
In the second district, the city council candidates are: incumbent Councilors Juan Climaco Elago II, Al-Jihan Edding, Teodyver Arquiza, and Jimmy Villaflores; former City Councilor Eduardo Saavedra; Tetuan Barangay Chairperson John Dalipe; Guiwan Barangay Chairperson Samuel Natividad; and retired policeman Alvin Perez. (Bong Garcia/SunStar Philippines)