Ma. Lourdes Arroyo-Lesaca, sister of the late Rep. Ignacio Arroyo Jr., yesterday transferred her voter’s registration from Quezon City to Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, and her lawyers said there is no legal impediment against her plan to run for congresswoman of the fifth district of the province in special elections set in June.

Lesaca said she voted in Payao, Binalbagan, in 2004 when her brother first ran for congressman of the fifth district, and she was merely returning to her original domicile.

In the 2007 elections, she voted in Iloilo and in 2010 in Quezon City, when her husband ran for councilor, she said earlier.

Lesaca, accompanied by her lawyers Reynaldo Novero Jr. and Marlin Velasco, filed her application for transfer of registration before the Binalbagan COMELEC yesterday afternoon.

“I am merely coming back to my domicile,” she said at a press conference last night.

She also said she will run for congresswoman of the fifth district in the special polls set in June.

Asked about her nephew Enrique Montilla’s interest in also running for the post, she said they will talk about it over the weekend when they see each other in Manila.

On the possibility of her brother’s partner, Grace Ibuna, and his friend Board Member Melvin Ibañez also running for the same post, Lesaca said it’s a free country, it’s the right of anyone who wishes to run.

She also plans to pay a courtesy call on Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr., Lesaca said, adding that she is asking everybody for their support.

Asked if some mayors of the fifth district had committed to support her, Lesaca said “That’s my secret, I won’t tell you.”

Lesaca, whose bid for the 5th district has the blessings of her brother, former first gentleman Mike Arroyo, said she may run under the Lakas Kampi ticket.

I am running to continue the projects that my brother started, and even add more for the fifth district, Lesaca said.

She cited infrastructure, education and livelihood projects she hopes to continue, and further improvement of Isabela district hospital.

On the statement of COMELEC spokesman James Jimenez that the law requires a one-year residency in a congressional district for one to run for representative of the area, Velasco said she does not think that is an issue for Lesaca who is from Binalbagan.*CPG

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