Rumors suggest support is building behind Arroyo kin in the 5th district

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Provincial Board Member Alain Gatuslao and candidate for Negros Occidental fifth district congressman shrugged off reports United Negros Alliance (UNegA) mayors within the congressional district would not support his candidacy.
Reports suggested Isabela Mayor Joselito Malabor, La Castellana Mayor Rhumyla Nicor Mangilimutan, and Binalbagan Mayor Emmanuel Aranda were planning to back Marilou Arroyo-Lesaca, sister of former Negros Occidental fifth district Rep. Ignacio ‘Iggy’ Arroyo, Jr.
“We have also heard of those rumors,” he stated. “They are the same rumors circulating in Love Negros.”
The board member stressed, Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr., who leads UNegA, formally endorsed his candidacy.
“The governor has already talked to the three of them,” he added.
While the sister of the late congressman has yet to officially declare her candidacy, Gatuslao noted, if she were to enter the race, “Voters will have many candidates to choose from.”
According to Malabor, after formally transferred her voter registration to Isabela last month, Arroyo-Lesaca made it clear she wants to “continue the legacy” left by her brother.
Arroyo served from 2004 until his passing in 2012, when he was replaced by incumbent Rep. Alejandro Mirasol, who is currently serving his third and final term./DGB, WDJ