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Bacolod City, Philippines Saturday, April 21, 2012
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Guv hopes SC
election ruling swift

BY CARLA GOMEZ

Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday said he hopes the Supreme Court acts immediately on a petition questioning the holding of the special election for a congressman of the fifth district of Negros Occidental on June 2.

It must ask swiftly so government will not spend money if it decides to stop the election, the governor said.

Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal filed a petition to stop the June 2 special election in the fifth district before the SC Thursday, saying “it is illegal because it will be held beyond the period as provided by law.”

Macalintal also asked the SC to issue a temporary restraining order to prevent COMELEC from disbursing funds for the special election, but Election Provincial Supervisor Jessie Suarez Thursday said he believes half of the P21.6 million allotted for it has already been spent for the printing of election paraphernalia.

The special election is being held to fill the 5 th congressional seat following the death of Rep. Ignacio Arroyo Jr. on January 26.

Among the two initial contenders for the post are Binalbagan Mayor Alejandro Mirasol and Board Member Emilio Yulo.

Arroyo's partner, Grace Ibuna, who was in Bacolod yesterday, reiterated that she is supporting the congressional bid of Mirasol because he is a man of honor who has done a lot to improve Binalbagan, which she believes he can replicate in the rest of the fifth district.

Mirasol, like Arroyo, is a passionate man when it comes to his work, and is very honest and sincere, she said.

She said Mirasol is not a typical politician who makes promises he cannot deliver on.

“Iggy is a hard act to follow, but I believe Bebot is the best man to continue his work in the fifth district,” Ibuna said.

Ibuna said she believes Mirasol will ensure that the projects Arroyo started for the people of the fifth district will continue.

“I am here to help fight for Bebot,” said Ibuna, adding that she will rally the allies of Rep. Arroyo and the people of the fifth district to support Mirasol.

Ibuna said she believes the people behind Macalintal's move to stop the June 2 special election are those who will benefit if it is held in May next year.

While she believes the June 2 special election is impractical with only a few months left before the filing of certificates of candidacy for the May 2013 regular polls, it's the call of the administration and the COMELEC that we should abide with, she said.

We should follow what the law dictates, she said.

Asked if, by supporting Mirasol she has totally abandoned Rep. Arroyo's plan for her to run for a congressional seat, Ibuna would only say “not really,” without elaborating.

The congressman's sister Ma. Lourdes Arroyo Lesaca had announced her plan to run for the fifth congressional seat, but her late registration to vote in the district by law will enable her to run only after a one year period, or in May next year yet.

Macalintal, an election lawyer of former president Gloria Arroyo, said he filed the petition to stop the fifth district special election as a taxpayer who wants government to save its resources.*CPG

 

 

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