Sara endorses Zambo mayor, who launched ROSA tandem

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Vice presidential aspirant and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has endorsed Mayor Beng Climaco who is running for congresswoman in District 1.

Duterte-Carpio’s endorsement of Climaco was a big blow to veteran politician Celso Lobregat who is running again for mayor here. 

“Este si Sara Duterte ta ama con el Zamboanga, (y ta corre) para vice presidente y Beng Climaco para na congreso. We love Zamboanga City,” the presidential daughter said in a recorded video message posted by Climaco on her Facebook page.

In the 2019 elections, Duterte-Carpio and her father President Rodrigo Duterte endorsed Lobregat, whom Climaco defeated by a wide margin. The president has not endorsed Lobregat nor his group Team Colorao which is supporting Duterte-Carpio and her running mate and presidential frontrunner Bongbong Marcos.

Lobregat’s opponent John Dalipe and his brother Zamboanga City Rep. Mannix Dalipe and their group are also supporting Marcos and Duterte-Carpio, but they failed to get the endorsement they needed from either Marcos or Duterte-Carpio. Marcos only endorsed Lobregat.

Climaco is actively campaigning for Vice President Leni Robredo, who is running for president; and Duterte-Carpio and now has a huge following in Zamboanga City. Robredo also endorsed Climaco during a campaign rally in Zamboanga City.

Last March, Climaco together with Albay Rep. Joey Salceda and Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez launched the ROSA (Robredo-Sara) 2022 tandem in Cagayan de Oro. Climaco has publicly admitted supporting the ROSA tandem, saying both women are empowered leaders.

In 2020 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Duterte-Carpio 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. (Zamboanga Post)