Ller bids farewell; readies for council race
City Hall Chief Executive Assistant Roseller “Ller” Natividad yesterday bade farewell to city government employees as he officially announced his intention to join the City Council race in next year’s local elections.
In his impromptu yet emotional farewell speech during the flag raising ceremony yesterday morning, Natividad thanked foremost Mayor Celso Lobregat for making him what he is today and for giving him the opportunity to serve the people of Zamboanga City under his administration.
“Thank you, mayor for giving me the opportunity to serve the people. Thank you also to my fellow City Hall employees and department heads whom I was able to work with, with good relationship, with good working attitudes and (they were) very cooperative with me,” said Natividad who has been in the city government for the last six years.
“I have learned to love you all but I will be out temporarily. Hopefully, with your help I will be back,” he said to a rousing applause.
Prior to his stint in the city government, Natividad had served the Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone and Freeport Authority, the defunct Coconut Federation (Cocofed) and a long-time barangay chairman of Tugbungan.
Known for his Chabacano slogan, “El jente ma abilidad y seguridad si Ller Natividad,” he is expected to file his certificate of candidacy by the end of this month together with Lobegat’s team in the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP).
As this developed, District 1 Councilor Noning Biel yesterday joined the LDP, swearing in before Mayor Lobregat and witnessed by his family and friends together with fellow councilors—Cesar Iturralde, Rudy Lim, Nonong Guingona, Gerky Valesco, Charlie Mariano, Eddie Saavedra, Lilia Nuño, Jofel de las Peñas, Rey Candido—and some barangay chairmen from District 1.
Lobregat said Biel is the first of the many, many contenders who will soon join the local LDP. “More and more will be joining the LDP as deadline for filing of certificates of candidacy nears,” he said, adding that Biel’s LDP affiliation was unconditional.
Biel ran under the administration’s Lakas-Kampi during the 2007 local elections. (Vic Larato)