Celso’s LDP, AZaP file COC today
Mayor Celso Lobregat and running mate Councilor Cesar Iturralde will lead the local Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino and Adelante Zamboanga party candidates in filing their certificate of candidacies for the 2010 elections, today, last day of filing set by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).
As a tradition since the time of the late Mayor Maria Clara “Ma’am Caling” Lobregat, the LDP and the AZaP will party members with their relatives and loyal supporters will attend a mass and later light candles at the Fort Pilar Shrine before proceeding to the COMELEC office in Baliwasan for the filing.
Mayor Lobregat has chosen three-termer Councilor Cesar Iturralde for his running mate in the May 2010 elections under the LDP. The candidates for the council slates for Districts 1 and 2 were also chosen in a democratic selection process conducted jointly Friday night by the LDP members and founding members of AZaP, a local party recently approved by the poll body.
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.
The Lobregat-led LDP will adopt Cong. Beng Climaco and Cong. Erbie Fabian as guest candidates for Congress in Districts 1 and 2 respectively. Climaco is now a member of the Liberal Party while Fabian has affiliated with the Nationalista Party.
Mayor Lobregat said some of the candidates will file their COCs under the AZaP while Lobregat, Iturralde and other candidates especially the re-electionists will file under the LDP.
Lobregat described the LDP-AZaP party as a formidable team that will help ensure the continuity of the city’s progress and development and most importantly to help protect the integrity and sovereignty of Zamboanga.
Iturralde, who has maintained a low profile, has a good track record in governance. He was the no-nonsense chairman of the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation in his younger days and is a performing member of the City Council during the past 9 years. (PR)