District 2 Congressman Erbie A. Fabian yesterday disclosed that he has already endorsed the strong sentiment of the Zamboangueños as expressed and embodied in City Council Resolution No.461 vehemently opposing the passage of House Bill Nos. 173 and 143 respectively, to the leadership of the House of Representatives.

Aside from submitting his endorsement letter supporting the said Council resolution, Fabian is also set to personally meet and confer with House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., to manifest the strong opposition of Zamboanga City to the two proposed bills seeking to make Zamboanga City the seat of one of two new proposed autonomous regions in Mindanao. They were filed by former president and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapaga-Arroyo, her son Camarines Sur Congressman Dato Arroyo and Tawi-Tawi Congressman Nur Jaafar.

“As a Zamboangueño I I will try my very best to exclude Zambaonga City once these (resolutions) will be presented in the plenary for discussion. Eversince, a big majority of local residents are strongly against any move to include Zamboanga City in the autonomous region,” Fabian stressed to reporters in an interview.

The congressman also revealed that he is already in the process of soliciting support from friends and party mates in the coalition party to help him defend the stand and interest of Zamboanga City.

Fabian said it is high time that lawmakers both in the Lower House and the Upper House be fully aware that the city has always been against its inclusion into the expanded ARMM.

He said that in the two plebiscites held several years ago, Zamboanga City voted a resoundingly “No” to its inclusion in ARMM.