Mayor spreads love, foes hate it

POLITICAL PROPANDISTS and foes of Zamboanga Mayor Beng Climaco are spreading lies and disinformation, and wanted her to stop helping the poor, especially at this time of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mayor Beng Climaco is warmly welcomed by two women in this City Hall photo.

Climaco has been distributing welfare aid and other assistance to thousands of families in different barangays, and oftentimes would come home late at night due to the pressing concerns and work at City Hall.

The mayor said her love for the people and their welfare are her priorities and even black propaganda will not stop her in helping the poor. And members of the City Council and barangay leaders and volunteers are also helping the mayor “feed the hungry and heal the sick.”

Those behind the black propaganda wanted to vilify Climaco to advance their own political interests ahead of next year’s polls. They spread disinformation on social and mainstream media after residents continue to rally behind the popular mayor, who is now on her third and final term.

“Torpe gat sos maga gente esos maga ta habla malo con el alcaldesa, bien bueno ya lang gane el mayora cay hasta este maga tiempo Covid el ayuda na maga pobre sin descanso. El maga arroz que ta dale ayuda el govierno local bien grande ayuda ya se. Esos ba maga ta reclama o ta hace malo con Mayor Beng cosa ba sila ya puede hace? Nada!” a supporter of Climaco said.

Anti-Climaco trolls also stepped their attacks on social media and most of their accounts are either fake or fictitious. But despite the black propaganda campaign against Climaco, the mayor remains popular even in social media and proof of this is the spike in the number of her followers on Facebook.

Climaco’s Facebook page is now being followed by more than 363,000 people from nearly 359,000 fans in March. The number of her social media followers ballooned to over 363,000 from only 133,000 in 2018 – a year before she was re-elected and won by a landslide over former mayor and lawmaker Celso Lobregat.

Her followers increased by more than 47,000 compared to last year’s 312,000 which was more than 200% from 2018. Climaco’s followers and supporters said she is leaving behind a legacy of good governance responsive to the needs and welfare of the Zamboangueños.

Trolls and political foes continue their black propaganda against Climaco, taking advantage of the health situation in criticising the mayor’s pro-poor program in an effort to influence and boost those they are supporting.

Climaco has repeatedly lambasted fake news and disinformation being peddled by her detractors and called on the public to carefully scrutinize news or stories created to deliberately misinform or deceive unsuspecting readers and influence their views for political interests.

“El black propaganda ta continua y el fake news, false information na social media ta continua hace calayat el cuantos maga persona que tiene mal intencion para destrosa el govierno local, para destrosa el esfuerzos del govierno por de ila vested interest,” Climaco previously told the Zamboanga Post.

“Y el los demas personas, como venganza contra con el govierno cay no puede estos maga gente influir con el gobierno local. Por cuantos años, el ataque contra na administracion sin descanso por causa de politica,” she added. 

Climaco said the local government continues to work hard for the welfare of the people while her foes are busy spreading black propaganda. In one of her weekly columns, “Sunday Reflection,” Climaco said she leaves everything to God.

“Where would I hewn my strength if not from God alone who placed me here? Despite the toxicity of politics, bien mabuling gayod, I am here to respond to the calling of God to change systems to be able to deliver quality service to the people. Just as in Jesus’ ministry, there were noisy, angry, and divisive voices that became obstacles in His mission. I too, navigate into these destructive obstacles that try to lure me away from my mission and my focus on my work,” she wrote.

“Politics is the main challenge that continues to distract our efforts to address the real problems of Covid-19. Malicious claims, spreading of baseless accusations and giving people false hope in doing what is popular…and all these for personal and political agenda? Very divisive and distractive as it is an obstacle to unity in these times of crisis. This is the cross a leader must carry, to deny oneself for the people. Not to let the distractive voices be an obstacle in following Jesus and our mission to serve. No matter how heavy our crosses may be, do not let obstacles block God’s love to grant you hope and a future!” she added.

In the end, Climaco quoted Jeremiah 29:11 and wrote: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

She also thanked the Zamboangueños for their unwavering support and love for her. (Zamboanga Post)