The Fifth District vacancy

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor PATRICK PANGILINAN Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The death of Congressman Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo of the Fifth District of Negros Occidental has left that area consisting of several towns and cities in the southern part of the province without a member in the House of Representatives. This has posed a question to both the provincial government and the House of whether or not, or how to fill the vacancy he left.

The Governor has been asking around among the potential replacements for Arroyo, and, if we are to go by their responses to him, at least two are willing to step into the shoes of the late congressman. However, they all made the qualification that they will only seek the position – in the event that a special election is decided on – with the blessings of their political party.

There are other views on the matter, however. The Speaker of the House of Representatives has aired doubts over the practicality of seeking a special election for the district now, since another election is due in about 15 months. Preparing for an election would take months, according to officials of the Commission on Elections, and the holding of the voting itself and the ensuing canvassing of votes are likely to take more time, with the regular elections getting closer and closer.

So far, what the House Speaker himself has told the DAILY STAR is that he is inclined towards the naming of a caretaker for the district until the regular elections takes place. Some officials both local and national appear to be of similar inclination.

We wonder, however, if there is any clearcut provision in the laws governing the Comelec about how to deal with a situation like this. So far, nobody seems to have referred to it yet. Such a provision would remove any doubts about how to resolve a problem such as this.*