Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday said that he will campaign for Binalbagan Mayor Alejandro Mirasol in his bid for the 5th district congressional seat during the June 2 special elections, but Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez Jr. is not taking sides.

Marañon said he will join in the campaign trail and endorse Mirasol, but not during the entire campaign period, since he has other work to do.

Mirasol and his nephew, Board Member Emilio Yulo III, have already signified their intentions to vie for the 5th district congressional seat, which was declared vacant by the House of Representatives, following the death of Rep. Ignacio “ Iggy” Arroyo.

Alvarez said he will not campaign either for Mirasol and Yulo, since they are both his friends. “I will just pray for both of them,” he added.

As far as he knows, Marañon said, there are two candidates for the vacated congressional seat, as of this time. He, however, said that it will be known if there are more candidates to join or to withdraw, a day before the end of the filing period for candidacy.

Former Board Member Enrique Montilla earlier expressed interest in joining the congressional race.

Alvarez, however, said he has no idea if his relative, Montilla, will run for the post, adding that he has not heard any news from him, a month after his dialog with him.

But he said it is too late now for him (Montilla) to run for the vacated position, with the reported filing of candidacy to start next month.

Yulo reiterated that he is not backing out from the congressional race, as he doused speculations that he is allegedly giving in to his uncle, Mirasol, after a negotiation.

While Mirasol vowed to continue what Arroyo had started in the 5th district, Yulo said “Having been in the government service for seven years, if the people feel that they are happy and satisfied with my performance, then maybe, it is time for me to expand my programs given to the district”.

He stressed that his programs are always consultative in nature.

Of the five mayors in the 5th district, Moises Padilla Mayor Francisco Nazareno, Isabela Mayor Francis Malabor, La Castellana Mayor Alberto Nicor and Hinigaran Mayor Hermilo Aguilar have expressed their support for Mirasol, while Himamaylan City Mayor Agustin Bascon pledged his support to Yulo, a cousin of his wife.*GPB

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