Politics heated up in Mucia town, Negros Occidental, as a three-cornered fight for mayor in the 2013 mid-term elections developed yesterday.

Retired Army General Raul Reyes yesterday filed his Certificate of Candidacy as an independent candidate before the office of the Commission on Election in Murcia at 1:10 p.m., while former Mayor Esteban “Sonny” Coscolluela filed his at about 8:30 a.m. with his councilors.

Incumbent Mayor Andrew Montelibano had filed his CoC, Monday.

Reyes, who admitted that he is at a disadvantaged position, said he wants to run to give Murciahanons a choice.

“I opted to run to give people a chance so we can have a real election,” Reyes said.

Reyes said that, though he is an independent candidate, he has a complete line-up for councilors, except for vice mayor.

Team Unity is the group of Reyes and his councilors are Romy Reales, Randolf Maquiling, Ida Jinco, Orlindo Pacheco, Leandro dela Torre, Ian Garcia, Herman Andres, and Antonio Espartero.

He said his team is not supporting any political party but they are more than willing to be adopted if they find the right group to help them.

Coscolluela told the DAILY STAR that he is running again because it is his response to the clamor of the people of Murcia.

“The clamor is just too loud to ignore and I will feel really bad for not responding to the call of the people,” he said.

His line-up for councilors are Belen Magbanua, Ernesto Peñafiel, James Bernalde, Jose Labuyo, Alfredo Villarosa Jr., Jessie Baydo, Jonel Bonifacio, Ruben Tañeza.

“This fight will be about money against love but I hope people have become wiser in their choice that money just passes by,” Coscolluela said.

Montelibano, however, said, “It is better if you have both love and money.”

He said one cannot run politics by love alone. “If people will choose us, we have the money and the love for public service,” he added.*LTG

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