Board Member Emilio Yulo III yesterday said he believes he has a better chance of winning the fifth congressional seat in the May 2013 polls in his battle against his uncle, Rep. Alejandro Mirasol, the second time around.

“The whole political landscape has practically changed. During the special election (in June) it was me against the world, now it’s the world against the world,” Yulo said.

Mirasol had won with the help of Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. and Liberal Party Negros head, Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, in the June 2 special election held following the death of Rep. Ignacio Arroyo Jr. He got 81,982 votes, or a lead of 13,103 votes over Yulo, who had 68,879 votes.

Yulo filed his CoC to run for the fifth congressional seat under the Nacionalista Party before the Negros Occidental COMELEC yesterday, but this time in the company of Nationalist People’s Coalition gubernatorial candidate, Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez Jr.

He also has the support of the NPC mayoral candidates in the five towns and one city of the fifth district, Yulo added.

“They are supporting me and I am supporting them,” he said.

Asked if he has the blessings of NPC founder Ambassador Eduardo Cojuangco, Yulo said, “You can read between the lines why I am here”.

Mirasol, who was seen at the NPC launching of the candidacy of Alvarez on September 22, has said he is abiding by the NPC-Liberal Party partnership and supporting the candidacy of Alvarez.

Mirasol was at the provincial COMELEC office when Benitez filed his CoC yesterday, and said he is filing his later in the week. He again reiterated his support for Alvarez.

“While he manifested his support for Alvarez, the big question is, can he be trusted if he transfers from one team to the other,” was Yulo’s reaction, in apparent reference to Mirasol’s previous association with the Marañon camp.

Yulo said he definitely has a much better chance of winning, claiming that Mirasol would not have changed sides if he knew he had a good chance.

Some members of the Yulo family who were not with him in June are now supporting him, Yulo added.

Alvarez confirmed that while Yulo is running under the NP banner, he is part of his team.

Asked whom he would support since Mirasol has also said he would support him, Alvarez said the elections are seven months off, “We will see… time will tell who will stay with me.”

Benitez, on the other hand, said the LP will continue to support the candidacy of Mirasol.

Mirasol will remain the LP candidate for the fifth congressional seat, Benitez said.

Asked if that means it would the vice governor’s candidate versus his candidate, Benitez said, “Why don’t you ask Yulo that?”

“If he was the candidate of the vice governor, why didn’t he join the NPC, which is the party of the vice governor?” Benitez asked.

Mirasol is believed to have the support of the mayoral candidates running under the Marañon team.*CPG

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