Love Negros to support Arroyo's congressional bid in 5th District

ABANG Lingkod party-list Representative Stephen Paduano revealed on Friday that Love Negros will support Marilou Arroyo-Lesaca for congresswoman in the Fifth District and Himamaylan City Vice Mayor Carmenia Bascon for mayor.

Paduano said the decision was reached after the top officials of Love Negros, Third District Representative Alfredo Benitez, and Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, met with some candidates.

When asked for comment, Himamaylan City Mayor Agustin Ernesto Bascon said he is not aware of this development as he was not present during the said meeting between Love Negros and some candidates in the district.

Bascon was earlier named as Love Negros candidate in the congressional race in the Fifth District.

This development means that the Fifth District congressional race would be between Arroyo, sister-in-law of former president and now House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and Board Member Alain Gatuslao, son of former assemblyman Tony Gatuslao, who used to serve as the Presidential Legislative Liaison Officer during the term of Macapagal-Arroyo.

Gatuslao refused to comment on the reported congressional bid of Arroyo.

Meanwhile, Himamaylan City mayoralty bet Raymond Tongson and his running mate, Councilor Justin Gatuslao, of the United Negros Alliance filed their certificates of candidacy before the local office of the Commission on Elections yesterday.

Along with them are their complete slate for the City Council namely Johnny Ades, Sam Belarga, Ranie Entiero, Pablo Liboon, Michael Brian Javelosa, Julie Ann Torillo, Marianne Limsiaco, Alejandro Montero, Paulo Sian Gonzales, and Junjun Tongson.

Javelosa and Tongson are incumbent city councilors.

Tongson said most of their line-up is young Himamaylanons who want to "see the full potential of our status as a city."

Justin Gatuslao, for his part, said that if his tandem with Tongson will win, "we will return to the original set up where it will be the mayor who will govern and the City Council will support him with the necessary legislation.”