Zamboanga City local elections, 2013

Zamboanga City mayoralty election, 2013
May 13, 2013

 
Nominee Maria Isabelle Climaco Salazar Erico Basilio Fabian Romeo Jaloslos
disqualified
Party Liberal Fuerza Zamboanga UNA
Running mate Cesar Iturralde Luis Climaco Mercy Arquiza-Fernandez
Popular vote 172,439 29,923

 
Nominee Albert Cajayon
Party Independent

Mayor before election

Celso Lobregat
LDP

Elected Mayor

Maria Isabelle Climaco Salazar
Liberal

Local elections was be held in Zamboanga City on May 13, 2013, within the Philippine general election. The voters elected for the elective local posts in the city: the mayor, vice mayor, and eight (8) councilors per district.

Summary

Two main coalitions posied for the control of Zamboanga City beginning mid-2012:

LP-LDP-AZAP

The AZAP coalition is composed of the local party itself and the local chapters of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino and of the Liberal Party. Incumbent District II Representative Erico Basilio Fabian is term-bounded and cannot run for another term and is poised to run for the mayorship in the next elections.[1] But the party endorsed, with the initiative of Mayor Lobregat, incumbent District I Representative Beng Climaco for the mayorship.[2][3]

The Split

Felt being junked by his former partymates in Lobregat's camp, Fabian decided to run against Climaco-Salazar under the banner of a new party, the Fuerza Zamboanga.[4][5] Lobregat denied Fabian's allegations citing that Fabian confirmed that he will not run for a new post and consider retirement.[6][7]

ZTZ-UNA

By the start of June 2012, former Zamboanga del Norte congressman Romeo Jalosjos announced his bid for the mayoralty in Zamboanga City.[8] He then started to establish a non-government organization known as the Zamboangueños for the Transformation of Zamboanga (ZTZ) with a 25-point agenda aimed at transforming Zamboanga City with progress and development.[9][10]

The United Nationalist Alliance fielded Jalosjos to chair the UNA local chapter in the city and Zamboanga del Norte.[11]

Disqualification Case

Representative Beng Climaco and Jomar Lobregat, the Mayor's brother filed a disqualification case against Jalosjos citing that he didn't meet the one (1) year residency requirement. He is also questioned that he is not qualified because of his conviction in a rape case in 1997 while he served in Congress.[12][13]

On January 15, 2013, the Commission on Elections disqualified Jalosjos alongside his brother, Dominador Jalosjos who is also a candidate for governor of Zamboanga del Sur for violating the Local Government Code of 1991 which bars ex-convicts to run for office and run short of the required one-year residency in the place where a candidate can run.[14][15][16]

Retiring and term-limited elective officials

Candidates

Notes:

Position LP-LDP-AZAP Coalition
Team PNoy
United Nationalist Alliance Fuerza Zamboanga Other parties Independents
Mayor Liberal Beng Climaco Nacionalista Erico Basilio Fabian Lakas Alberto Cajayon
Vice Mayor LDP Cesar Iturralde UNA Mercy Arquiza-Fernandez Independent Luis Climaco
  • Alexander Francisco
Member of the House of Representatives 1st LDP Celso Lobregat UNA Crisanto dela Cruz PMP Chrisler Cabarrubias
  • Cesar Climaco, Jr.
  • Abdurahman Tagayan
2nd AZAP Jose Lobregat UNA Manuel Jose Dalipe Independent Lilia Macrohon-Nuño PMM Samuel Enesando
  • Abelardo Climaco
Member of the Zamboanga City Council 1st Liberal
  • Elbert Atilano
  • Ahmad Sampang
UNA
  • Rodolfo Bayot
  • Rowland Bella
  • Jarah Bernardo
  • Antonio Blanco
  • Jaime Cabato
  • Jerson Monteverde
  • Alexis Ortega
  • Marlon Torres
Independent
  • Miguel Apostol
  • Joselito Bernardo
  • Hado Edding
  • Melchor Sadain
NPC
  • Cesar Jimenez, Jr.
  • Armando Bucoy
  • Josephine Pareja
  • Khymer Olaso
  • Dominador Managula
  • Rizaldy Montebon
LDP
  • Myra Paz Valederrosa-Abubakar
  • Luis Biel III
  • Tito Espiritusanto
  • Charlie Mariano
  • Rogelio Valesco, Jr.
AZAP
  • Violeta Alejandro
2nd Liberal
  • Roel Natividad
  • Arturo Onrubia
UNA
  • Mohammadnur Ajihil
  • Rommel Agan
  • John Dalipe
  • Susan delos Reyes
  • Al-Jihan Edding
  • Juan Climaco Elago II
  • Resurrecion Miravite
  • Leomyr Toribio
Independent
  • Gerasimo Acuña
  • Basilio Apolinario VII
  • Carlito Depositario
  • Roseller Enriquez
  • Antonio Feliciano
  • Eduardo Mingala
  • Frederick Atilano
  • Abubakar Hakim
  • John David Corpin
  • Nulhamdo Cegales
  • Bahari Camlian
  • Hussayin Apra
  • Quirino Aba
  • Christopher Miguel, Sr.
LDP
  • Miguel Alavar III
  • Francisco Barredo
  • Benjamin Guingona IV
  • Percival Ramos
  • Eduardo Saavedra, Jr.
AZAP
  • Vincent Paul Elago

Results

The candidates for district representative, mayor, and vice mayor with the highest amount of votes wins the seat; they are voted separately, therefore, they may be of different parties when elected.

House of Representatives election

1st District

Incumbent Maria Isabelle Climaco Salazar is not running; she is running for the mayorship instead; Incumbent Mayor Celso Lobregat is her party's nominee under the coalition of LDP-LP-AZAP.

The UNA-ZTZ coalition fielded former Monsignor Crisanto dela Cruz for the post. Dela Cruz previously run for the mayorship in 2007 and for the vice-mayorship in 2010. This will be the second time where Dela Cruz and Mayor Lobregat will go against each other as they have last 2007 mayoral elections.

2013 Philippine House of Representatives election at Zamboanga City's 1st district
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Team PNoy Celso Lobregat 42,826 38.53%
UNA Crisanto Dela Cruz 32,234 29.00%
Independent Cesar Climaco, Jr. 20,355 18.31%
PMP Chrisler Cabarrubias 1,910 1.72%
Independent Abdurahman Tagayan 639 0.57%
Turnout 98,072 88.13%
Rejected ballots 13,085 11.77%
Total votes 111,157 100.00
LDP hold Swing

2nd District

Incumbent Erico Basilio Fabian is term limited and running for the mayorship instead. He then formed a local coalition known as Fuerza Zamboanga yielding District II Councilor Lilia Nuño to replace him.

The AZAP coalition nominates Mayor Lobregat's brother, Jose Lobregat, to run for the post.

The ZTZ coalition recruited former City Vice-Mayor Mannix Dalipe to run for the post.

2013 Philippine House of Representatives election at Zamboanga City's 2nd district
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Fuerza Zamboanga Lilia Nuño 33,475 29.88%
Team PNoy Jose Lobregat 27,912 24.91%
UNA Manuel Jose Dalipe 25,242 22.53%
Independent Abelardo Climaco 8,783 7.84%
PMM Samuel Enesando 1,792 1.60%
Turnout 97,204 86.76%
Rejected ballots 14,835 13.24%
Total votes 112,039 100.00
Fuerza Zamboanga hold Swing

Mayoral elections

Incumbent Mayor Celso Lobregat is his third consecutive term and is barred to run for another term. He ran for Congress representing the First Legislative District.

Zamboanga City mayoral election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Team PNoy Maria Isabelle Climaco Salazar 172,439 77.26%
Fuerza Zamboanga Erico Basilio Fabian 29,423 13.18%
Lakas Albert Cajayon 5,967 2.67%
Turnout 207,829 93.12%
Rejected ballots 15,367 6.88%
Total votes 223,196 100.00
Liberal hold Swing

Vice-mayoral elections

Incumbent Vice-Mayor Cesar Iturralde is running for reelection against former Councilor Luis Climaco and former Dapitan City councilor Mercy Arquiza-Fernandez.

Zamboanga City Vice Mayoral Election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Team PNoy Cesar Sebastian Iturralde 100,430 45.00%
Fuerza Zamboanga Luis Morgia Climaco 66,784 29.92%
UNA Mercy Arquiza-Fernandez 20,574 9.22%
Independent Alexander Lisito Francisco 2,496 1.32%
Turnout 190,284 85.25%
Rejected ballots 32,912 14.75%
Total votes 223,196 100.00
LDP hold Swing

City Council elections

Each of Zamboanga City's two legislative districts elects eight councilors to the City Council. The eight candidates with the highest amount of votes wins the seats per district.

Zamboanga City Council election, 2013
May 13, 2013

All 8 seats from each of Zamboanga City's two legislative districts
9 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party Third party
 
Leader Celso Lobregat Romeo Jalosjos Cesar Jimenez, Jr.
Party LDP UNA NPC
Alliance Team PNoy UNA Independent
Leader's seat 1st District 2nd District 1st District
Seats before 11 0 5
Seats won 8 3 1
Seat change Decrease 3 Increase 3 Decrease 4

  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
Leader Erico Basilio Fabian Maria Isabelle Climaco Salazar Jose Lobregat
Party Nacionalista Liberal AZAP
Alliance Fuerza Zamboanga Team PNoy Team PNoy
Leader's seat 2nd District 1st District 2nd District
Seats before 0 0 0
Seats won 1 1 1
Seat change Increase 1 Increase 1 Increase 1
Coalition Mayoral/vice
mayoral candidate
Total votes Total seats
Total % Total %
Team PNoy Beng Climaco 10 55.6%
UNA Romeo Jalosjos 3 16.7%
Fuerza Zamboanga Erbie Fabian 1 5.6%
NPC None 1 5.6%
Independents Varies 1 5.6%
Total valid votes cast N/A
Total turnout
Total partisan seats 16 88.9%
Seat for Association of Barangay Captains President 1 5.6%
Seat for Association of Sangguniang Kabataan chairmen President 1 5.6%
Total non-partisan seats 2 11.1%
Total seats 18 100.0%

1st District

 Summary of the May 13, 2013 Zamboanga City Council election results
# Candidate Coalition Party Votes % Swing[c 1]
1 Melchor Sadain Fuerza Zamboanga Independent 55,984 %
2 Rogelio Valesco, Jr. Team PNoy LDP 53,979 %
3 Cesar Jimenez, Jr. not affiliated NPC 52,873 %
4 Charlie Mariano Team PNoy LDP 51,277 %
5 Luis Biel III Team PNoy LDP 49,798 %
6 Josephine Pareja not affiliated Independent 47,798 %
7 Myra Paz Valderrosa-Abubakar Team PNoy LDP 46,691 %
8 Rodolfo Bayot UNA UNA 45,691 %
9 Jaime Cabato UNA UNA 45,564 %
10 Elbert Atilano Team PNoy Liberal 41,222 %
11 Hado Edding Fuerza Zamboanga Independent 24,724 %
12 Ahmad Sampang Team PNoy Liberal 23,902 %
13 Tito Espiritusanto Team PNoy LDP 21,805 %
14 Antonio Blanco UNA UNA 15,021 %
15 Violeta Alejandro Team PNoy AZAP 12,911 %
16 Alexis Ortega UNA UNA 12,653 %
17 Jarah Bernardo Romuar UNA UNA 10,791 %
18 Joselito Bernardo Fuerza Zamboanga Independent 10,702 %
19 Miguel Apostol Fuerza Zamboanga Independent 10,171 %
20 Jerson Monteverde UNA UNA 8,085 %
21 Armando Bucoy Not affiliated Independent 6,215 %
22 Marlon Torres UNA UNA 6,142 %
23 Khymer Olaso Not affiliated Independent 4,936 %
24 Rowland Bella UNA UNA 3,879 %
25 Rizaldy Montebon Not affiliated Lakas 3,760 %
26 Dominador Managula Not affiliated Independent 1,717 %
Certificates of canvass already canvassed
Total turnout Increase 1.29%
Total votes N/A
Registered voters Increase 2.80%
  1. Change in percentage point as compared from the 2010.

2nd District

 Summary of the May 13, 2013 Zamboanga City Council election results
# Candidate Coalition Party Votes % Swing[c 1]
1 Roel Natividad Team PNoy Liberal 53,968 8.41%
2 Benjamin Guingona IV Team PNoy LDP 49,696 6.93%
3 Miguel Alavar III Team PNoy LDP 43,955 6.74%
4 Eduardo Saavedra, Jr. Team PNoy LDP 42,792 6.57%
5 Juan Climaco Elago II UNA UNA 42,653 6.73%
6 Percival Ramos Team PNoy LDP 38,494 5.74%
7 Rommel Agan UNA UNA 37,514 6.09%
8 Vincent Paul Elago Team PNoy AZAP 36,213 5.66%
9 John Dalipe UNA UNA 35,506 5.57%
10 Francisco Barredo Team PNoy LDP 34,372 5.34%
11 Al-Jihan Edding UNA UNA 35,227 5.34%
12 Susan delos Reyes UNA UNA 29,083 4.52%
13 Gerasimo Acuña Fuerza Zamboanga Independent 25,537 4.05%
14 Arturo Onrubia Team PNoy Liberal 24,612 3.93%
15 Frederick Atilano Not affiliated Independent 14,538 2.28%
16 Abubakar Hakim Not affiliated Independent 11,545 1.66%
17 Basilio Apolinario VII Fuerza Zamboanga Independent 11,484 1.68%
18 Loemyr ToribioUNA UNA 10,901 1.57%
19 Roseller Enriquez Fuerza Zamboanga Independent 10,828 1.77%
20 Resurrecion Miravite UNA UNA 9,848 1.58%
21 John David Corpin Not affiliated Independent 9,621 1.45%
22 Mohammadnur Ajihil UNA UNA 8,641 1.28%
23 Antonio Feliciano Fuerza Zamboanga Independent 5,357 0.88%
24 Carlito Depositario Fuerza Zamboanga Independent 5,200 0.85%
25 Nulhamdo Cegales Not affiliated Independent 4,817 0.70%
26 Bahari Camlian Not affiliated Independent 4,739 0.69%
27 Hussayin Apra Not affiliated Independent 4,526 0.66%
28 Eduardo Mingala Fuerza Zamboanga Independent 4,127 0.58%
29 Quirino Aba Not affiliated Independent 2,743 0.41%
30 Christopher Miguel, Sr. Not affiliated Independent 2,153 0.32%
Certificates of canvass already canvassed
Total turnout Increase 1.29%
Total votes 64,119 N/A
Registered voters Increase 2.80%
  1. Change in percentage point as compared from the 2010.

Aftermath

Proclamation[17]

As the election unofficial results found that Climaco was leading by a wide margin, Fabian announced his concession and congratulates Climaco for winning the election. “I concede defeat and I would like to congratulate my dear friend Beng Climaco,” Fabian said in a press statement.[18] On May 14, 2013, Climaco was proclaimed winner by the City Board of Canvassers in the mayoralty elections.[19] She also laid out her plans for the city which includes the solution to solve the city power crisis and the peace and order situation.[20]

District II Representative-elect Lilia Macrohon-Nuño also urged the people of Zamboanga to move on and discuss what is best for the city.[21] She also revived the issue of creating a third congressional district for the city in which the city has more than 770,000 people.[22] According to the 1987 Philippine Constitution, each district shall represent 250,000. Currently, the city is represented twice in the House of Representatives. A previous move by then Congresswoman Climaco was made by filing a bill to Congress creating the said district but was blocked by the majority of the members of Zamboanga City Council.[23]

Cabato electoral protest

After the proclamation of all the councilors of District I, outgoing incumbent Councilor Jaime Cabato who landed on the 8th spot announced his intention to file an electoral protest against his own partymate, Rudy Bayot who landed on the 7th spot and against the administration party bet, Myra Paz Valderrosa.[24] Cabato was a former member of the administration-led party, the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino[25] until he switched sides with then mayoralty candidate, Romeo Jalosjos citing the fact that he disagreed with the candidate line-up of the LDP.[26][27]

Taluksangay issue[28]

Jose Augustus Villano, chairman of the Zamboanga chapter of Legal Network for Peaceful Election (LENTE), said his group found that of the 847 registered person with disabilities (PWDs) voters in Zamboanga City, 505 or almost 60 percent are from Barangay Taluksangay. Taluksangay is under the control of the Nuños which Lilia, one of its powerful members won the congressional race in District II.

Villano himself observed voting at the five clustered precincts of Taluksangay. He immediately noticed that almost all voters, whether they appeared to have a disability or not, were helped by a small group of people stationed inside the precinct. When Villalon asked election officers about them, he was told they were “liners” there to assist PWDs. LENTE records show that 80 to 90 percent of all who voted were assisted. Villano thinks that the people assisted might have been illiterate rather than PWDs. “I asked them in both Tagalog and in the native dialect Tausug and they understood. I asked them who they want to vote for and they pointed at the names.” When he asked the voters how they were related to the “liners,” they replied, “Sila ang magvo-vote para sa amin (They were the ones who voted for us).” When Villano told the election officers that this was illegal, the Board of Election Inspectors replied that she cannot assist the voters herself because she is "busy".

Despite its small voting population, Taluksangay was a point of contention during the campaign period. Jomar Lobregat’s party, Adelante Zamboanga, claims that they were not allowed to post their materials in there. In a news item in Zamboanga Times on April 14, Adelante Zamboanga team coordinator Rudy Lim said that when he asked Taluksangay barangay chairman Abdurahman Nuño if they can conduct a meeting in Taluksangay, Nuño replied, “No deal."[29]

Abdurahman Nuño is the husband of Lilia and sits on the city council ex-officio and is president of the Association of Barangay Captains.

See also

References

  1. Rey Carbonel (June 27, 2012). "Climaco: Fabian still open to options". The PhilSouth Angle. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  2. Bong Garcia (June 28, 2012). "Lawmaker run mayor". Sunstar Newspaper. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  3. "Lobregat: Climaco strongest bet for Zambo City mayor". Balita News. May 8, 2012. Retrieved April 27, 2013.
  4. Fuerza Zamboanga Media Bureau (April 10, 2013). "Women cry, others cheers, Celso is seen in Fabian's Fuerza rallies". Zamboanga Times. Retrieved April 27, 2013.
  5. Fuerza Zamboanga Media Bureau (April 11, 2013). "Seven short but standing tall - that's Fuerza Zamboanga". Zamboanga Times. Retrieved April 27, 2013.
  6. "In the spirit of friendship, Fabian thinking of retirement". Zamboanga Times. March 12, 2012. Retrieved April 27, 2013.
  7. Hader Glang (May 8, 2012). "Lobregat: Fabian was not junked". Zamboanga Today. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
  8. Tristan Garcia (October 8, 2012). "Jalosjos is now a candidate for mayor in Zamboanga". Zamboanga Today Online. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  9. Frank Buenaventura (June 24, 2012). "More Zamboangueños joining Jalosjos transform movement". Zamboanga Today Online. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  10. Nonong Santiago (August 21, 2012). "Jalosjos forms JR, a non-political organization". Zamboanga Today Online. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  11. "UNA fields convicted child rapist Jalosjos for mayor of Zambo". MindaNews. October 5, 2012. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  12. Rey Carbonel (July 7, 2012). "Beng, Jomar asks COMELEC to bar Jalosjos". Daily Zamboanga Times. Retrieved April 26, 2013.
  13. Rey Carbonel (November 2, 2012). "Jomar files another disqualification case vs. Jalosjos". Daily Zamboanga Times. Retrieved April 27, 2013.
  14. Sheila Crisostomo (January 18, 2013). "Jalosjos, brod disqualified". Philippine Star. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  15. Matikas Santos (January 16, 2013). "Comelec disqualifies Jalosjos brothers, boxing promoter in May polls". Inquirer.net. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  16. "Comelec disqualifies Jalosjos brothers from running in 2013 polls". InterAksyon.com. January 16, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  17. "Beng, Itu, Celso, Lilia, 13 council bets proclaimed". Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  18. "Erbie concedes defeat, congratulates Beng". Daily Zamboanga Times. May 15, 2013. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
  19. Hader Glang (May 16, 2013). "Mayor-elect Climaco Salazar, Congressman-elect Lobregat, Vice-Mayor-elect Iturralde and 12 winning councilors also proclaimed". Zamboanga Today Online. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  20. Hader Glang (May 20, 2013). "Beng reveals her top priorities". Zamboanga Today Online. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  21. "Nuño:Election is over, let's move on, discuss what's best for Zambo City". Zamboanga Today Online. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  22. R. G. Antonet Go (May 21, 2013). "Congresswoman-elect Lilia Nuño favors creation of 3rd district". Zamboanga Today Online. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
  23. Nonong Santiago (March 31, 2011). "Minority's move to create 3rd district junked by majority". Zamboanga Today Online. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
  24. "Jimmy Cabato to file poll protest today". Daily Zamboanga Times Online. May 24, 2013. Retrieved May 26, 2013.
  25. Sheila Covarrubias (November 29, 2009). "Celso's Supreme Court feat led Jimmy Cabato to LDP fold". ZamboTimes. Retrieved May 26, 2013.
  26. Hader Glang (October 2, 2012). "Cabato breaks his silence". Zamboanga Today Online. Retrieved May 26, 2013.
  27. Nonong Santiago (October 3, 2012). "Councilor Cabato joins Jalosjos camp". Zamboanga Today Online. Retrieved May 26, 2013.
  28. Yen Blanco Delgado and Barry Barraca (May 21, 2013). "Voting assistors: Helping PWDs or manipulating votes?". VERA Files. Retrieved May 26, 2013.
  29. PA (April 24, 2013). "Kit Barredo confirms no entry for T-PNoy in Taluksangay". Zamboanga Today Online. Retrieved May 26, 2013.

External links