Mirasol wins over Yulo for 3rd time

BACOLOD City, Philippines — Negros Occidental Fifth District Rep. Alejandro Mirasol for the third time has defeated his nephew, former board member Emilio Yulo III, in the congressional race.

Mirasol, who belongs to the ruling Liberal Party, enjoys the political backing of Malacañang since he first ran in a special elections in 2012, after he became the first mayor of Negros Occidental who openly supported then presidential candidate Benigno Aquino III in 2010. At the time, it was unpopular to declare support for Aquino. 

Mirasol, who was then mayor of Binalbagan town, ran for congressman in a special election in 2012 when the congressional post was vacated due to the death of Ignacio Arroyo, brother-in-law of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The 2012 elections was the first congressional battle of Mirasol and Yulo, who was then outgoing board member. Mirasol won.

He again defeated Yulo in the regular elections in 2013 and in the recent May 9 elections.

In the May 9 polls, Mirasol got 88,897 votes against Yulo’s 85,638 or a difference of 3,259 votes.

Other solons

Negros Occidental has seven congressional districts, including the Lone District of Bacolod.

The winning congressmen are Greg Gasataya, incumbent Bacolod vice mayor, for the lone district; Melecio Yap, incumbent mayor of Escalante City, for the first district; incumbent Rep. Leo Rafael Cueva (reelected for 2nd term, second district); incumbent Rep. Alfredo Benitez (reelected for 3rd term, third district); Juliet Marie Ferrer, incumbent La Carlota mayor, for the fourth district; and incumbent Rep. Mercedes Alvarez (reelected for 3rd term, sixth district). — (FREEMAN)