Councilor Jimmy Lazatin is surrounded by some of the 28 City of San Fernando village chiefs who accompanied him when he filed his COC for vice mayor. Photo by Ric Gonzales
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – “I am offering my reputation as public servant and what I did for the city after almost nine years as councilor.”
Thus said Councilor Jimmy Lazatin after he filed his certificate of candidacy for vice mayor last week. The independent candidate has been named official candidate of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).
Lazatin said he has “always believed in the high intelligence of the people of San Fernando in choosing performance over popularity when it comes to their leaders.”
“Besides, I offer my unblemished public service record,” added Lazatin, who was instrumental in pushing for programs on education and protection of women and children.
Mauro Sison of this city, who was in front of the SM City San Fernando when Lazatin filed his COC accompanied by his supporters, said “it is apparent that Councilor Jimmy is not an independent on a solo run, looking at with him in his parade.”
“Almost all of the city’s barangay captains are here,” said Sison. It was learned that at least 28 of the total 35 barangay chairmen joined the three-term councilor in the parade from the Lazatin ancestral home to the nearby Commission on Elections (Comelec) office here.
“If you want check and balance in the city council and a vice mayor who is clean and hard-working then Lazatin is it,” said Sison, who served as volunteer nurse in several medical missions in Pampanga for over ten years.
For his part, Lazatin said his “success will be the success of the people.” He added that he and his family “are genuine sons of the city and haved lived and did business in San Fernando.”
Lazatin said he decided to run for vice mayor because “I feel I am better as part of the legislation.”