Former Dumaguete Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo has abandoned his desire to run for mayor, and has endorsed Board Member Arturo Umbac and Woodrow Maquiling to run for mayor and vice mayor, respectively.

In an interview with the DAILY STAR, Remollo revealed that Umbac and his group have forged an alliance against incumbent mayor Agustin Perdices. It has not, however, been confirmed if Maquiling has accepted the endorsement as the latter is still recuperating from a recent surgical operation.

As part of the agreement, Remollo said he is withdrawing from the race but is endorsing four names to run under the Umbac ticket. They are former councilors Nilo Sayson and broadcaster Jess Estrabela, former Department of Education division superintendent Dr. Metodio Gapasin, and Tony Remollo.

He has not yet confirmed the six other members of his ticket under the Genuine Opposition.

Incumbent Vice Mayor William Ablong said he welcomes the re-entry of Maquiling in the vice mayoralty race and hopes and prays that Maquiling is healthy enough to face the rigorous campaign trail.

Perdices, meanwhile, said that in every election the usual slogan of a challenger is a cry for change in the leadership, and bring more development to a locality.

He was reacting to the pronouncements of Remollo that in the past years, he has not seen developments in Dumaguete.

Perdices said Remollo was blind to several developments and improvements in Dumaguete because he seldom visits the city.

A three-cornered fight is also looming for the vice mayoralty race. A third contender is believed to be forming a complete slate.

Rep. Emilio Macias II (2nd District, NegOr) reiterated his support for Perdices and his entire slate.

The heavy equipment issue is a "dead issue" Agustin Perdices said, as far as the elections in May this year are concerned.

Perdices said the issue was decided by the people in 2001 when they booted out then Mayor Remollo from City Hall.

Remollo, however, said he has proven them wrong in the decision of the Ombudsman Manila that the controversial heavy equipment were brand new, and that, they are being used in massive infrastructure and road cementing projects in Dumaguete.

Perdices said the decision referred to by Remollo was based purely on documents submitted, in contrast to the Visayas Ombudsman's decision whose technical men actually conducted physical investigation of the questioned heavy equipment.

Perdices said the equipment could not be returned because Remollo had paid for it before stepping out of City Hall.*JG

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