HINIGARAN - Politics has divided members of the Yulo clan since 1987, until now.

A prominent clan in politics, Yulo family members are again pitted against each other in the race for the 5th district congressional seat, that was declared vacant by Congress after the death of Rep. Ignacio Arroyo.

Binalbagan Mayor Alejandro Mirasol and his nephew, Board Member Emilio Yulo III, are running against each for the 5th district congressional seat. Mirasol and the father of Yulo, former Isabela mayor-turned Board Member Emilio Yulo Montalvo, are cousins.

Oscar Yulo, president of the Association of Barangay Captains of Hinigaran, former Binalbagan Vice Mayor Jerry “Buc-Buc”Yulo and former Board Member Francis Tuvilla, son of former Board Member Socorro Yulo Tuvilla, yesterday said they are fully supporting the candidacy of Mirasol.

Oscar, younger brother of the late Rep. Mariano Yulo, and Jerry, who lost to Emilio Yulo III for board member representing the 5th district in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in the 2010 elections, said the Yulo clan is rallying behind Mirasol.

Despite the division in politics during the election period, Oscar yesterday claimed that there is no friction among Yulo clan members. “We are not vindictive, we are all professionals”, he said.

Tuvilla said the Yulo clan was divided during the 5th district congressional race in 1987 elections, which was between Emilio Yulo Montalvo and the late Mariano Yulo.

In the 1998 congressional election, Socorro Yulo Tuvilla and Gregorio Yulo, who also served as a member of the Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawighan, lost to then administration candidate, Juan Apolinario Lozada.

During that election, Tuvilla said Mirasol and Emilio Yulo Montalvo, then Isabela town mayor, supported the candidacy of Lozada.

Oscar said he expects Mirasol to win the congressional seat, being an administration candidate, and citing results of the previous congressional race, where Lozada and Ignacio Arroyo were candidates of the Ramos and Arroyo administrations, respectively.

Before the filing of certificates of candidacy, members of the Yulo clan tried to hold a selection process on who among Mirasol and Yulo will be fielded in the congressional race but failed to reach a concensus.

“May the best man win,” Mirasol has said.*GPB

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