House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte told the DAILY STAR yesterday that the holding of a special election for the congressional seat of the Fifth District of Negros Occidental, which has become vacant with the death of Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo Jr., is still an option.

In the meantime, he said, he will act as the caretaker of the district. “It has not yet been decided if there will be no special election,” Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) also said.

Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday said it appears that there is little time left for a special election with the regular polls set in May next year. The seat of Arroyo has not been declared vacant by the House yet, he also said.

But the decision on what to do with Arroyo’s congressional seat will be up to the House leadership, he added.

Meanwhile, Rep. Mercedes Alvarez (Neg. Occ., 6th District) has taken on the tasks of working for the passage of bills Arroyo had filed, especially for his district, her father Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez said.

Arroyo died in London on January 26 after a long battle with cirrhosis of the liver.

His remains are expected to arrive in Manila today and in Negros Occidental late Monday for a wake in the Fifth District until Thursday morning.*CPG

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