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Bacolod City, Philippines Tuesday, March 20, 2012
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Montilla won’t run,
if aunt pursues bid

BY CARLA GOMEZ

Former Board Member Enrique Montilla yesterday said he met with his aunt Ma. Lourdes Arroyo Lesaca during the weekend and she has asked for a couple days to decide on her congressional bid in the fifth district of Negros Occidental.

Montilla said that if Lesaca, who is the cousin of his father, decides to run in the specials polls on June 2 he will not run against her.

However, he said Lesaca has to consider several factors, including the legal aspect of her running, before deciding what to do.

Lesaca who voted in Binalbagan in 2004, transferred her registration to vote from Quezon City back to the Negros Occidental town on Friday.

Her lawyers said there is no legal impediment to her bid to run for congresswoman of the fifth district in the special congressional polls, amid questions raised on whether she had met COMELEC requirements on the matter.

The special elections are being held after the fifth congressional seat of Negros Occidental was declared vacant following the death of Lesaca’s brother, Rep. Ignacio Arroyo Jr., in London on January 26.

Montillla said he will wait for his aunt’s decision on the matter.

Earlier Board Member Emilio Yulo said he and his uncle Binalbagan Mayor Alejandro Mirasol also set a criteria to be met in deciding who among the two of them will run for congressman of the fifth district. The one who meets the criteria will get the support of the other, he added.

Meanwhile, Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday said Lesaca is not a member of the United Negros Alliance and is not among those being considered by the local party to be fielded as its congressional candidate for the fifth district of Negros Occidental.

Lesaca said Friday that she will pay a courtesy call on the governor to discuss her plan to run for the 5th congressional seat.

The governor yesterday said it is not he alone who will decide on whom UNA will field for the fifth district but the members of the party, in a meeting set this week.

The two contenders for the party’s endorsement are UNA members Board Member Melvin Ibañez and Mirasol, but the governor said the selection process is open to other party members who may also be interested in running for the post.

The inputs of the mayors of the fifth district, and the congressmen, vice governor and board members of Negros Occidental will be sought at the party meeting, he said.

He said it would be unfair for the party to field a candidate who is not an UNA member.*CPG

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