PB Member Ibañez withdraws stake to run in Negros special elections

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Provincial Board Member Melvin Ibañez, one of the choices of political leaders to be their candidate in the June 2 special congressional elections to replace the late Rep. Iggy Arroyo (5th district, Negros Occidental), has withdrawn himself from the list to give way to Malacañang’s bet, Binalbagan Mayor Alejandro Mirasol.

Ibañez said he is giving way to Mirasol, also the most likely choice of the United Negros Alliance (UNA), who “will have better access to Malacañang because of his endorsement from the Liberal Party.”

The PB member of the 5th district said, “I am always thinking of no other way for the greater good of our district,” and having Mirasol as its congressman would be advantageous to the constituents there.

“Besides the stand of our local party, the UNA, is to unite Negros (Occidental) and have a common goal: to bring progress and peace to our province,” Ibañez said in a text message to The FREEMAN.

UNA, the dominant local alliance of major political parties in this province comprising of majority of incumbent officials, was choosing between Mirasol and Ibañez as its candidate for the special poll in the district’s post vacated by Iggy’s death.

Sources said UNA will meet again this Saturday (March 31) to formally declare Mirasol as its candidate for the congressional race. The first UNA meeting last week failed to arrive at a decision on who would be the party’s bet, said Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., chairman of UNA.

“I don’t want to prolong and drag the situation so I made this early declaration,” Ibañez said, adding that he might not be around during UNA’s convention because he has a scheduled medical conference on Saturday. Ibañez is also a physician.

Ibañez was the second possible candidate to have backed out before the filing of candidacies on May 23. Earlier, Iggy’s sister and former Kasangga party-list Rep. Ma. Lourdes “Marilou” Arroyo-Lesaca also withdrew. “We are still grieving for the loss of my brother and upon consultation with my family, we deemed it best not to participate at this time,” Lesaca said in a statement.

Although she refused to say who she will endorse among candidates, Lesaca said that Mirasol had always been supportive of Iggy.

Grace Ibuna, long-time partner of Iggy and among those being considered a candidate, said she also supports the candidacy of Mirasol. “I can trust him to continue the projects that Iggy had started in the district,” she said, adding however that if Mirasol does not get the UNA endorsement, then she will be a candidate.

Other possible candidates at this time are PB Member Emilio Yulo III, who is a nephew of Mirasol; former PB Member Enrique Montilla, nephew of Lesaca; and former Isabela Mayor Renato Malabor. - THE FREEMAN