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Congressman Erbie A. Fabian yesterday broke his silence amid reports that Lakas leaders have been courting him to join the ruling administration party. Fabian acknowledged the reports saying that both top Lakas leaders in Manila and in Zamboanga City have approached and asked him to join the party.
He said that Lakas stalwarts in Congress have in fact been courting him and making juicy offers since late last year. These offers have been repeated lately, he added. Last week, Lakas leaders in Zamboanga City headed by its chairman, former mayor Vitaliano Agan, prodded Fabian to leave the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) and run in the next election under the Lakas banner. However, the first termer congressman said he has not made any commitment nor gave much attention to this matter because he has his mind focused on the various projects and programs he has been implementing and pursuing to bring development and progress to Zamboanga City. "They (Lakas leaders) have been courting me and making overtures in Manila and in Zamboanga City, however I have taken these to the backseat considering that there are pressing matters and more urgent things to attend to for Zamboanga City," Fabian said. Asked what his decision or opinion is on the invitations and offers, the Zamboanga legislator shrugged and said it is certainly an honor and a boost to self-esteem, yet something to approach with reservation. "I have to take into consideration my loyalty with LDP where I started my political career and where I am currently a member of the executive committee. This is a subject that has to be looked upon with probity," he explained. Fabian is undoubtedly one of the two top political timbers in Zamboanga City. The other one is Mayor Celso L. Lobregat and both of them belong to the opposition LDP. Reports said that another LDP stalwart, Vice Mayor Beng Climaco, has received similar invitations or offer from Lakas contact persons in this city. Apparently, the offers and invitations received by Fabian and Climaco were intended to boost the strength of the local Lakas chapter which had suffered serious defeats in the past elections. In another development, Vice Mayor Climaco has denied reports that she was offered P10 million by some groups to severe ties with Mayor Celso Lobregat and his Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) party stressing that these tales are pre-emptive moves aimed to destroy her reputation. The vice mayor suspected that the P10 million yarn is the machination of political rivals or groups who intend to frame her up in the future. The false reports have caused humiliation, she said, as some people ask her about it in public. "It is very humiliating and what''s worst is that it is untrue". She admitted that there are invitations for her to run for higher positions in the 2007 polls but emphasized that no one has ever offered her P10 million or any other amount. "But whatever plots there are, we have to work very hard. Politics is a matter that should be set aside in consideration of our duty as public officials", the lady vice mayor pointed out. She said the elections would come in 2007 and at present, city officials should concentrate on their mandated task to deliver the services to the people. The vice mayor is committed to work harder for the good of her constituents and is confident that the people would judge her according to her accomplishments. "Let the people be the final arbiter. We leave it up to the people and to God", the vice mayor added. The P10 million report circulated a week ago, just as the oppositionists in the city have started firming up plans for the next polls. It alleged that some groups have put up the amount to entice the vice mayor to challenge Mayor Lobregat in 2007.
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