Who is the majority now in City Council?
POLITICIAN CELSO Lobregat has put the last nail in the coffin of the so-called “majority block” in the City Council following his announcement of Councilor Jerry Perez as his congressional bet in next year’s polls.
Perez, a long-time ally of Lobregat and president of the local chapter of the Association of Barangay Captains, is running for District 2 which is currently being held by Rep. Mannix Dalipe.
Lobregat, who is gunning for the mayoralty post, has not picked his bet for the 1st Congressional District and his candidate for vice mayor or bare his complete line up for the City Council.
But Lobregat’s allies in the City Council are expected to rally behind him - two of them BG Guingona and Mike Alavar - are on their last and final term and one of them may be chosen as vice mayoralty candidate of the 73-old politician, who was defeated by Mayor Beng Climaco in 2019.
Lobregat’s recent announcement has left Dalipe, who is reportedly aspiring to become the next mayor, without a viable line up except for his younger brother Councilman John Dalipe, who is believed running for a congressional seat in District 2. It also opens the door now for both sides to publicly criticize or challenge each other in an effort to bolster their own political interest.
The elder Dalipe, who served as vice mayor, was a staunch critic of Lobregat.
With the brothers Dalipe challenging Lobregat and his group, it would likely to break up the majority block which has been opposing Climaco’s pro-poor projects, among them the Vida programs, which greatly helped the indigents and the elderly sector, including those with disabilities.
Lobregat is still being supported by
Guingona and Alavar, and Councilors Litlit Macrohon, Gerky Valesco, Cary John
Pioc, VP Elago, Khymer Olaso and Lilibeth Nuño.
Macrohon, Alavar, Guingona, Dalipe and Nuño, all fiercest critics of Climaco, have disapproved the P1.368-billion Supplemental Budget requested by the local government in June.
Climaco said the bulk of the budget will be utilized for the Covid-19 response, such as the procurement of equipment, medicines and social assistance to be given to affected families. “Este para asegura el curada y comida que ay puede ayuda alivia vida na tiempo de pandemia,” the mayor said, referring to the Supplemental Budget.
The 54-year old mayor thanked the 13 council
members, including political allies of Lobregat, for approving the budget.
Climaco’s allies in the City Council - Bong Atilano, Jihan Edding, Kim
Elago, Cesar Jimenez, El King Omaga, Pinpin Pareja, and Jimmy Villaflores voted
for the approval of the budget; and so was Tungkuh Hanapi, the representative
of the Indigenous People in the City Council.
“We thank
the move of the majority of the Sangguniang Panlungsod members who went beyond
party lines and treated the approval of the Supplemental Budget No.1 amounting
to P1.368 Billion with a sense of urgency - this is a clear indication that in
a period of financial challenges and public health crisis, we, as servants of
the people, can unite over common goals and respond to a more genuine
conscience call - to heal the sick, feed the hungry and promote the general
health and welfare of all our people,” Climaco said.
“We thank
our SP members for showing unity and a whole-of-society approach for our
Covid-19 response and capacity management. With God's grace, hay puede kita
dale curada y comida para ayuda alivia el vida del diatun maga vivientes na
este tiempo de pandemia. Muchas gracias,” she added.
Politicians running for the polls
are set to file their certificate of candidacy in October and Climaco continues
to enjoy the strong support of her constituents.
Popular
And despite the Covid-19 pandemic and black
propaganda against her, Climaco remains popular among the residents here and
proof of this is the spike in the number of her followers on social media.
Climaco’s Facebook page is now
being followed by nearly 359,000 fans from only 133,000 in 2018 – a year before
she was re-elected and won by a landslide over Lobregat. The number of her
followers increased by more than 47,000 compared to last year’s 312,000 which
was more than 200% from 2018.
Climaco is now on her third and
final term and she is leaving behind a legacy of good governance responsive to
the needs and welfare of the Zamboangueños, more especially at this time of crisis.
She is yet to decide whether to run
again for Congress, but Climaco’s political prowess and honesty and her
dedication to public service remain a convincing voice for residents to vote
for her group as shown in the past polls.
Black Propaganda
However, trolls and political
foes continue their black propaganda against the mayor and take advantage of
the situation ahead of the polls 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 readers to influence views or for political motives.
“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
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 tantos 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)
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