CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - Zamboanga Mayor Beng Climaco has publicly admitted supporting the tandem of Vice President Leni Robredo and Davao City Sara Duterte, saying both women are empowered leaders, and even helped launch the ROSA 2022 or Robredo-Sara campaign in Cagayan de Oro City.
Robredo
is running for president with Senator Francis Pangilinan as her running mate;
while Duterte is the vice presidential candidate of former senator and namesake
of Dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Both belong to different political parties –
Robredo with the Liberal Party and Duterte is with Lakas–Christian Muslim Democrats.
Climaco was with Congressmen Joey Salceda and Rufus Rodriguez in Cagayan de Oro City on March 21 to promote the ROSA 2022 tandem. The trio also held a news conference at the Mallberry Suites Business Hotel in Cagayan de Oro City and a campaign rally later in the day.
It
was unclear if there were other politicians or groups behind the ROSA 2022
tandem campaign apart from Climaco’s group.
 |
| Photos released to the Mindanao Examiner regional newspaper show Zamboanga City Mayor Maria Isabelle Salazar, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda and Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez at the launching of the ROSA 2022 tandem in Cagayan de Oro City on Monday evening, March 21, 2022. |
“VP Leni and Mayor Inday are both empowered women. Pareho silang hindi iniwan ang Zamboanga City at tinulungan kami lalo na sa panahon ng pandemya. VP Leni instituted Angat Buhay livelihood programs in Mindanao at diyan ko nakita ang pagmamahal niya sa bayan at ang kanyang abilidad na masolusyonan ang problema ng kahirapan. Si VP Leni hindi rin nakalimot sa Zamboanga City sa panahon ng pandemya. Nagpadala siya ng mga PPEs, launched E-Consulta and gave Covid Care kits for our covid positive patients,” Climaco said.
“Like VP Leni, is another woman - a daughter, a mother, a lawyer and Mayor of Davao City - si Inday Sara Duterte. She is a leader who is courageous in battle. Mayor Inday, like VP Leni, also helped Zamboanga City in the time of pandemic - whether it was the newborn screening tests for babies or the provision of RT-PCR machines. Hindi niya kami iniwan. She also assisted victims of the (military) C130 plane crash (in Sulu province on July 4, 2021) and airlifted them from Zamboanga to Davao - she showed her dedication to help and left a mark on how a woman's passion for service like that of VP Leni can go out of their way to serve with a heart,” she added.
Climaco said Zamboanga and Davao are sister cities and that Duterte considered her as a big sister. “Davao City is a Sister City of Zamboanga and I am Mayor Inday's Big Sister. She considers me as her Ate,” she said, recalling their trip to the United States two years ago.
Even Duterte
posted on her Facebook page in January about the trip – on the invitation by
Washington for a series of lectures and meetings for the project “Strong
Cities, Strong Partnerships: A Comprehensive Approach to Preventing Terrorism
in Southeast Asia” under the auspices of the International Visitor Leadership Program
of the Department of State.
Duterte said
Climaco took care of her and ensured that there is a steady supply of food in
her room during their stay at the US. “Throwback muna tayo sa trabaho bago
naging pandemic ang Covid-19. January 23, 2020, two years ago today, dumalo ako
sa 88th Winter Meeting ng US Mayors, kasama ko Si Zamboanga City Mayor Beng
Climaco na aking naging kaibigan dahil sa work trip na ito,” Duterte said.
She said
Climaco even gave her ginger ale, the first time she tasted the carbonated
drink made from ginger root. “Alaga nya (Climaco) ako (at) laging may pagkain
ang kwarto ko panlaban sa gutom at siya ang nag-introduce sa akin sa ginger ale
na napakasarap pala,” Duterte said.
Climaco,
reacting from Duterte’s social media post, said: “It was a wonderful experience
to learn side by side with Mayor Inday. We look forward to a stronger, safer
Zamboanga City where children and young people are given the opportunity to
chase their dreams and aspirations.”
In 2020, Duterte
facilitated the donation of two RT-PCR test machines, including 25,000 sets of
disposable specimen sampling kits to the local government of Zamboanga City.
The local
governments of Davao and Zamboanga City also signed a sisterhood accord in July
of the same year. The sisterhood agreement intends to create and fortify an
open communicative atmosphere to induce a heightened exchange of ideas,
particularly in the fields of tourism and culture, agriculture and trade and
commerce. (Mindanao Examiner)
