Majority of the congressmen are in favor of holding a special election for the new representative of the fifth district of Negros Occidental, Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) said yesterday.

The fifth congressional seat became vacant following the death of Rep. Ignacio Arroyo Jr. in London on January 26, and a battle over his body between his long time companion Grace Ibuna, and his second wife Aleli Arroyo has delayed its return.

The congressman’s body will arrive next week, his elder brother, Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, said.

“He’ll spend one day in Congress, two days in Negros Occidental, and three days in our ancestral home,” the husband of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said.

Benitez said Congress may tackle the status of the congressman’s congressional seat next week.

“I would rather have a special election because the people of the fifth district will have true representation from a person of their choice, but it is up to Congress and the Speaker of the House to decide,” he said.

There is still enough time for the election of a congressman of the fifth district, with 50 percent of a term left to serve, Benitez added.

“There is still one and a half year of projects and programs for the fifth district to be implemented, with the whole budget for 2012 not implemented yet, before the 2013 polls,” he said.”*CPG

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