Winners in Zamboanga City elections proclaimed

text & photos HADER GLANG

Vice Mayor-Elect Mannix Dalipe (2nd from left) joins for photo ops with political opponents Mayor Celso Lobregat, re-elected Congressman Erbie Fabian (right) and new 1st District Rep. Beng Climaco. Below photos show the councilors of District I and District II, taking their oath.

The city board of canvassers on Wednesday officially proclaimed the entire local winning candidates here, except for three re-electionist city councilors who did not show up for unknown reasons.

District I city election officer Roel Bengua, also chairman of the board of canvassers, proclaimed Mayor Celso Lobregat, Vice Mayor Mannix Dalipe, District I Congressman Beng Climaco, District II Congressman Erbie Fabian, and the 16 City Councilors.

Proclaimed newly-elected members of the City Council for District I: Charlie Mariano, Jimmy Cabato, Jawo Jimenez, Melchor Sadain, Leynet Abarro, Rodolfo Lim, Gerky Valesco, and Luis Biel III; for District II were: Asbi Edding, Kim Elago, Cesar Ituralde, Lilia Nuno, Elong Natividad, Nonong Guingona, Rudy Saavedra and Rey Candido.All the winning candidates except Vice Mayor Dalipe and Councilor Cabato took their oath before Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch XVI Presiding Judge Jesus Carbon after they were proclaimed as winners in the May 14 elections.

Dalipe told reporters he wants his family to be with him when he finally took his oath of office on June 30. He said he considers the affair a solemn one, so he wants his whole family to be with him during his oath taking.

The young Dalipe is a staunch critic of Mayor Lobregat.

For his part, Cabato who ran under the Nuevo Zamboanga, said he prefers lawyer Nancy Cuaresma to officiate in his oath-taking also to be held on June 30.

Sadain, also of the Nuevo Zamboanga, said he will again have a separate oath-taking with his whole family present at noon of June 30 to be officiated by Judge Tibing Asaali of RTC Branch XVII.

He said there is no problem even if the City Council is dominated by the Lobregat-led LDP because he can always cooperate with the programs of the mayor.

"I can also be a fiscalizer if I see the program is not good and not priority for the city. But rest assured we will support whatever programs of the mayor for the better of our city," he added.

The proclamation of Councilors Edding, Elago and Iturralde were represented by their next-of-kin.

The new set of elective city government officials will formally assume office on July 1 this year. The Lobregat-led LDP slate dominated the May elections with 15 of its bets winning the 20-contested local seats in the city.

Monsi dela Cruz humbly concedes to Lobregat
Nuevo Zamboanga leader Monsi Crisanto dela Cruz, who conceded to his closest rival Mayor Celso Lobregat, applauds his running mate, District congressional candidate Eldy Gonzales, who declared he wont concede to rival, Beng Climaco. (HADER GLANG)

MAYORALTY candidate Monsi Cris dela Cruz yesterday conceded the local election to his closest rival Mayor Celso Lobregat in what political observers described as an act of "sportsmanship and supreme sacrifice."

But his running-mate, District I congressional candidate Eldigario Gonzales strongly voiced out his dismay over his political rivals, saying that he will not concede to the cheaters.

"I will start by saying I have no regret, but I'm not going to concede to the cheaters who destroyed the political processes here. I shall remain a critic to guide our people," Gonzales lamented.

Vice mayoralty candidate Vic Solis said that from all indications it appears that Mannix Dalipe is a highly popular politician to win for the office of vice mayor.

"I accept the decision of the electorates of the city of Zamboanga and extend my congratulations and felicitations to the incoming vice mayor," Solis said.

Dela Cruz personally called up Lobregat through mobile phone and congratulated him. He told the mayor that he will be praying for him and wished the latter the best of health and success.

At a press conference attended by Gonzales, Susan Delos Reyes and Solis, other partymates and supporters, the former priest said that in a democratic society there is always a winner and a loser.

"Today, I humbly extend my heartfelt congratulations to Mayor Celso. It's time to move forward and humbly ask all of you to join hands in making Zamboanga a better place," dela Cruz said in a statement.

He said he is man enough and he does not want to be waiting for 15 days considering that the people knew what happened during the elections. "Even if I lost in the votes I shall continue to work with friends along the way."

He thanked his three brothers, sister-in-law, running mates, campaign managers, Muslim friends, pastors, labor groups, tricycle drivers and other supporters, calling them the source of his strength and inspiration.

He also thanked his fellow priests in the archdiocese in Zamboanga City, who have supported him, even as he expressed his love and forgiveness to the few priests who have disagreed with him and have done something against him.

"I salute you for your courage and love. Thank you for your support and solidarity. I feel that you've worked so hard and have given your best despite limited resources. To all of you goes my lifetime gratitude and assurance of my prayer."

Affirming his continued help to the landless poor and less privileged, he said he wholeheartedly forgave all those who have maligned him and his good name, "assuring them of the sincerity that comes from my wounded but loving heart."

"With courage, I say I love you all. You may have tried to destroy me but I will not destroy anyone, or to destroy you, will be to destroy my self. God bless Zamboanga City and alt of you. Be a friend. Remember that I love you all. Fear not; be strong, be brave for God's grace is constant and always overflowing," he concluded.

Meanwhile, Gonzales urged the people Zamboanga to continue with their vision for change and to go the street to demonstrate their feelings for what they stand for.

"While I forgive, I can't concede as I assure you, we will continue to fight what is best for our city," Gonzales said.

For her part Delos Reyes, District II congressional candidate, said: "I apologize to the people of this city, the electorates for the un-preparedness that we had as political candidates."

Delos Reyes said she accepted the fact that she lost in the election, but that will not stop her from continuing, not only the vision of Nuevo Zamboanga but the peoples' call for change in the leadership of Zamboanga City.

"Let this be a new beginning. We in Nuevo Zamboanga have an obligation to continue what we have started and to prepare for the next electoral process. Let's protect the politics in our city."

With 82 out of 98 city barangays already accounted for in the tabulation of the cast ballots done by NAMFREL Operation QUick Count, a clear trend for the winning local candidates has already been established.

In the mayoralty race, reelectionist city mayor Lobregat led closest rival Monsi Dela Cruz by over 32,000 votes as of 8:00 p.m. (Philippines time) Friday. For the vice mayoral post, Mannix Dalipe led over nearest rival Mila Velasquez by more than 23,700 votes.

For the congressional seats, it has been Beng Climaco leading all the way over Eldy Gonzales in their one-on-one showdown in the Representative District I. Reelectionist Erbie Fabian is likewise leading by wide margin in District II with 57,165 over Susan Delos Reyes with only 17,894.

The councilors who are making in the magic 16 for City Council seats of District I and District II are: Charlie Mariano, Jawo Jimenez, Jimmy Cabato, Melchor Sadain, Lynet Abarro, Rudy Lim, Gerky Valesco, Noning Biel, Asbi Edding, Kim Elago, Cesar Iturralde, Lilia Nuno, Elong Natividad, Nonong Guingona, Rey Candido, and Eddie Saavedra. (HG)