ISABELA town Mayor Joselito Malabor confirmed Wednesday, September 19, that former presidential sister-in-law, Ma. Lourdes "Marilou" Arroyo-Lesaca, has transferred her voter's registration from Barangay Payao in Binalbagan to Barangay 2 in Isabela, Negros Occidental on September 13.
She was with Malabor and Fifth District Representative Alejandro Mirasol when she filed her transfer of voter's registration.
She was the bet of Congressman Mirasol to be his successor in the Fifth District as he plans to slide down to run for mayor in Binalbagan, said Malabor.
She plans to help the district but she has not yet declared, the mayor said.
But if she will decide to run, the people of the Fifth District will be happy of it because of the legacy left by her younger brother, the late congressman Ignacio "Iggy" Arroyo, brother-in-law of former president and now House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
“We went with her when she filed it because we want to show her a good gesture in exchange to all the good deeds that the family Arroyo has done to Isabela and to the Fifth District especially term of the former president,” Malabor said.
They have a house in the town of Isabela where the former solon lived. She will live there while she is in the Fifth District.
"We have encouraged her to run since the death of Congressman Iggy. But she refused before because the Aquino administration has ran after the Arroyos when they assumed the power in Malacanang," Malabor said.
When she decides to run, he will support her bid for the congressional seat along with Congressman Mirasol and La Castellana Mayor Rhumyla Nicor-Mangilimutan.
"I cannot confirm yet the support of Binalbagan Mayor Manuel Aranda but he also communicates with us," he said.
Those who are interested to run for congressman in the Fifth District include Himamaylan Mayor Agustin Ernesto Bascon and another town mayor.
Board Member Alain Gatuslao also plans to run with the support of the United Negros Alliance (Unega).
"But we will support Arroyo. We will also wait for the final decision of Congressman Mirasol as he might continue being a congressman or run for mayor," Malabor said.