BOARD Member Alain Gatuslao officially declared his decision to run for congressman in the Fifth District against any opponents.
Gatuslao, in a press conference Monday, October 1, dismissed rumors that mayors in his district allied with the United Negros Alliance (Unega) will not support him, especially if Marilou Arroyo, the sister-in-law of former president and House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, decides to seek the congressional post.
Another opponent of Gatuslao is his cousin, Himamaylan Mayor Ernesto Agustin Bascon, who gets the backing of Love Negros.
Gatuslao made the pronouncement after Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. talked to Isabela Mayor Joselito Malabor, La Castellana Mayor Rhumyla Mangilimutan and Binalbagan Mayor Emmanuel Aranda.
"We have also heard those rumors. They are the same rumors circulating in Love Negros," Gatuslao pointed out.
The rumor sparked after Malabor personally accompanied Arroyo when she transferred her registration from La Castellana to Isabela on September.
"The governor has already talked to the three of them after the rumors came out and Governor Marañon has openly endorsed me as the official candidate of Unega for Congress in the Fifth District," Gatuslao emphasized.
He added that his family has high respect for Arroyo, calling her tita.
"We helped her in her campaign for party-list congressman and my father worked in Malacanang for several years during the administration of former president Arroyo," he said.
"If she decides to run, the voters will have many candidates to choose from," he also said.
Gatuslao also said that the formula towards victory is a combination of having the support of the mayors and the barangay officials on the ground.
"Politics is just temporary as it comes only every three years. What is important is for an official to have projects and programs that would help ordinary people," Gatuslao added. (TDE)