Comelec sets special Negros polls

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will hold a special election in the fifth district of Negros Occidental to fill the post vacated by the late congressman Ignacio “Iggy” Aroyo.

Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said Comelec executive director for operations Bartolome Sinocruz Jr. proposed the holding of the special election on June 2.

“We need at least two months to prepare… so I think June is okay,” Sarmiento said.

Among those who expressed their intention to run were Arroyo’s sister and former Kasangga party-list representative Marilu Arroyo-Lesaca, Binalbagan Mayor Alejandro Mirasol and provincial board members Melvin Ibanez and Emilio Yulo III.

The House of Representatives earlier passed House Resolution 2171, which certified the “existence of a vacancy” in the seat allotted to the fifth congressional district of Negros Occidental and called for a special election to fill the vacancy.

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes had admitted that he was not keen on holding the special poll because Arroyo’s replacement would serve for only one year. He added the poll body would spend P30 million for the exercise.       – With Danny Dangcalan