Celso picks Iturralde for VM, bares complete council slates
Mayor Celso Lobregat has chosen three-termer Councilor Cesar Iturralde for his running mate in the May 2010 elections under the local Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) party.
Lobregat also announced the party’s council slates for District 1 and District 2 with congresspersons Maria Isabelle “Beng” Climaco-Salazar and Erico “Erbie” A. Fabian, who have joined the Liberal Party (LP) and Nacionalist Party, respectively, as guest congressional candidates.
The council candidates for District 1 are re-electionists Rudy Lim, Gerky Valesco, Jimmy Cabato and Luis Biel III together with new comers Myra Valderrosa Abubakar, an active civic leader of Zone 3; Talisayan chairperson Josephine Pareja; sports buff Prof. Elbert Atilano of the Universidad de Zamboanga and young businessman Kaiser Olaso of Ayala.
For District 2, the slate includes five incumbent councilors – Lilia Nuño, Rey Candido, Eddie Saavedra, Nonong Guingona and Eddie Rodriguez – with new aspirants Roseller “Ller” Natividad, who is the hardworking mayor’s chief executive assistant of Tugbungan; young businessman Michael Alavar of Vitali and television personality and active youth leader VP Elago of Tetuan.
Dubbed as the man of few words, Iturralde has initiated the passage of numerous pieces of legislation during his three terms in the City Council. He is also silently but actively supporting the Lobregat administration in the implementation of the never-ending list of plans and programs.
Lobregat said the new comers had passed through the selection process conducted jointly Friday night by the LDP members and founding officers of Adelante Zamboanga Party (AZaP), a local political party approved by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Lobregat had earlier said that some of the council aspirants, particularly the new comers, may have to run and file their certificates of candidacy under the AZaP. (PR)