Bayan Muna will oppose the candidacy of any Arroyo, including that of Grace Ibuna, for the fifth congressional seat of Negros Occidental, Rep. Neri Colmenares said yesterday.

“(Former) President Gloria Arroyo, Mike Arroyo and the Arroyo family cannot be allowed to return to political power, whether nationally or in the 5th district,” he said.

A special election is set in June for the congressman of the fifth district of Negros Occidental following the death of Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo Jr. on January 26.

Ibuna, long time partner of Rep. Arroyo, said “I am not an Arroyo. I am not going to run because of the Arroyos. I said I am only contemplating on running if Bebot (Binalbagan Mayor Alejandro Mirasol) does not run.”

She only wants to make sure Rep. Arroyo’s projects for the people of the fifth district are continued and that the people are served well, Ibuna said.

“Bebot enjoys my trust and confidence because he is the person I believe would love, care and serve the people of the fifth district with as much passion as Iggy. If they don’t get that, that’s not my problem,” she said.

“I am not an Arroyo and never pretended to be,” she stressed.

Ibuna said she is challenging Colmenares to a debate over any television station. ”I dare him,” she said.

NO ARROYO RETURN

Colmenares, reacting to the possibility of Ibuna running for the 5th congressional seat, said: “While we expressed our sympathies to the family of the late Rep. Iggy Arroyo for his unfortunate demise, Bayan Muna, as a matter of principle, cannot allow the Arroyos to make a return in the 5th district.”

He said while Bayan Muna has no intention of directly intervening in the local politics of the 5th district of Negros Occidental, “it will oppose a direct candidacy of the Arroyos, including Ibuna, who does not even hail from the 5th district, especially my hometown of La Castellana, where she registered as a voter.”

‘STOP BASHING IGGY’

Ibuna said “Please stop bashing Iggy now that he is dead, give him peace”. She said the congressman served the people of the fifth district well, as shown by the outpouring of their love on his death.

“Why now that Iggy is dead and cannot defend himself, are they trying to taint his good name and what he has done?” she asked.

An emotional Ibuna said she is ready to fight to defend what Rep. Arroyo has done for the fifth district and at the end of the day it is the people of the fifth district who will decide.

She said Colmenares is a lawyer of whom she had a good impression and believed in when she met him, but is now taking all that back because, apparently, he is not.

“I’M NOT BASHING”

“I’m not bashing Iggy and I hope Ms. Ibuna will not bring him into the picture. We are just consistent with out political position against the Arroyos which we have declared a long time ago,”

In any case, he said if Ibuna will not use the political machinery and resources of the Arroyos if ever she will run, then I will be convinced that she has chartered a separate identity from them,” Colmenares said.

LESACA MAY NOT RUN

Former Board Member Enrique Montilla yesterday said chances are that his aunt, Ma, Lourdes Arroyo Lesaca, who is sister of Rep. Arroyo and former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, will not run for congresswoman as she had earlier announced because of legal impediments.

Lesaca could not be reached by the DAILY STAR for comment as of press time.

Lesaca had only re-registered to vote in Binalbagan town on March 16. With the elections set on June 2, questions have been raised on her eligibility to run since the COMELEC requires that a candidate must be a resident voter in the district for a period of not less than one year immediately preceding the day of election.

Montilla said Lesaca was in the fifth district Saturday as masses were held for her brother, Rep. Arroyo, in Hacienda Manolita, in Barangay Payao, Binalbgan, and Hacienda Bacan in Isabela attended by their family and workers on the farms. With Lesaca at the mass was Rep. Arroyo’s daughter, Bianca.

Montilla said that if his aunt cannot run, he is thinking “very deeply” about the possibility of running for congressman of the fifth district. However, if he does not, former Isabela Mayor Renato Malabor may run.

As to the Bayan Muna statement that they will oppose any bid by the Arroyos for the fifth congressional seat, Montilla said: “Who are they to make that claim?”

MIRASOL SUPPORT

Meanwhile, former Board Member Francis Gerard "Tanting" Tuvilla Saturday said the Liberal Party members and N4NM volunteers in Hinigaran, are throwing their all-out support to the candidacy of Mirasol for congressman.

“We believe that he is the best candidate that can deliver the services, projects and programs of the national government to the people of the fifth district…We see him also as an honest and morally upright public servant,” he added.

Mirasol said he is awaiting the announcement of the United Negros Alliance, of which he is a member, on whom it will support as its congressional bet for the fifth district.

He said that as a partyman, he will abide by its decision.

UNA is said to be choosing between Mirasol and Board Member Melvin Ibañez and is expected to make an announcement soon.*CPG

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