Lawyer-crusader Joel Dojillo yesterday declared his plan to join the May 14 mayoralty race in Bacolod City as an independent candidate.

At a press conference at the Negros Press Club building, Dojillo who ran for city councilor in the early 1990s and for barangay captain in the previous barangay elections in Banago, where he both lost, said his only armament during the campaign is his determination to serve the people of Bacolod.

"I'll be running without resources," he said, stressing that his only crusade is to awaken the consciousness of the Bacoleños on what he tagged as "conventional" politics, where candidates buy votes and the local government ruled only by "people with pedigree."

Dojillo, a native of Pontevedra town, Negros Occidental, said his plan to seek the mayoralty post was prompted by the refusal of Councilor Lyndon Caña and businessman Ricardo Yanson to take the challenge to run for local chief executive. "There's no turning back," he said of his intended filing of certificate of candidacy with the Commission on Elections not later than March 28.

Dojillo said he is open to engage his opponents to a debate to tackle major issues affecting governance and the people.

In case he loses, Dojillo said, "I am not new to fighting seemingly lost causes. I had gone to far greater and more dangerous lengths to try and serve."

He added that his only vision is to inflict serious wound on patronage politics.

"The fight itself is victory," he stressed.*GCT

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