It’s ATUN vs. UNA
We’ll give 2010 polls our
best shot – Coscolluela
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Sugar Regulatory Administrator Rafael “Lito” Coscolluela yesterday filed his certificate of candidacy for governor of Negros Occidental, along with his runningmate Dr. Enrico Elumba, former mayor of La Castellana town, under the ATUN (Atun Tamdon Utod Negrosanon) party.

Three congressional candidates in their team – forester Oscar Arias – second district, Murcia Mayor Esteban “Sonny” Coscolluela – third district, and businessman Philip Arles – sixth district, also filed their COCs.

Coscolluela said they will give the 2010 polls their best shot, “we have more support than we expected.”

Rafael Coscolluela will remain Sugar Regulatory Administrator despite his having filed his Certificate of Candidacy for governor of Negros Occidental, yesterday.

“If the rules were not changed I would be considered resigned effective today. Fortunately the Supreme Court has decided that appointive officials will not be considered resigned from their posts,” he said.

So he will be spending the next three months at least institutionalizing the changes that he brought into SRA, Coscolluela said.

It will be a six-cornered fight for the congressional race in Bacolod City after former Bacolod Rep. John Orola Jr. filed his certificate of candidacy as an independent candidate for congressman during the last day of filing yesterday.

Also running for congressman of Bacolod are Undersecretary Anthony Golez Jr. (Nationalist People’s Coalition), Ricardo “Cano” Tan (Lakas-Kampi-CMD), former Bacolod Vice Mayor Renecito Novero, Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue and Ramon Vicente Fernandez De la Cruz who are running as independent candidates.

Orola yesterday said he decided to run as an independent candidate for congressman so he will not be beholden to anyone and also because he believes there is a need to implement many changes in Bacolod including its political landscape.