House okays special poll in Iggy's district

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – The House of Representatives approved on Monday night a resolution mandating a special election in the fifth district of Negros Occidental to replace Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo who died last Jan. 26 in London.

Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer (fourth district, Negros Occidental) confirmed the approval of House Resolution 2171, saying it is now up to the Commission on Elections to conduct the special election.

House Resolution 2171 was authored by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte and co-authored by four Negros Occidental lawmakers, namely Reps. Julio Ledesma (first district), Alfredo Marañon III (second district), Alfredo Benitez (third district), and Mercedes Alvarez (sixth district).

There are nine prospective candidates for the position, among them Arroyo’s sister Marilou Arroyo-Lesaca, his partner Grace Ibuna, board members Melvin Ibanez and Emilio Yulo II, and Binalbagan Mayor Alejandro Mirasol.