• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Amid intense political rivalries in some local government units of the Negros Occidental 5th district, Representative Emilio Bernardino Yulo III is hopeful for peaceful elections on May 12 in his district.
“We are praying for peaceful elections always. After all, it will be the people who will decide on it. Let’s give to the people the ultimate decision, not [leave it] in the hands of a few people,” said Yulo, who held a fellowship activity with more than 1,100 barangay officials and leaders in the district on April 12 in Barangay Talaban, Himamaylan City.
It was described as a “show of force” by barangay officials and leaders in the 5th district, who openly aired their support to the reelection of Yulo, following the endorsement of Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson for his opponent, Board Member Anton Occeno.
Yulo earlier thanked Lacson for endorsing his opponent, claiming it awakened the determination of his supporters to campaign even harder for him.
I have nothing against him. We respect his decision, the solon stressed.
Occeño is the president of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas – Negros Occidental chapter, a party that coalesced with the Nationalist People’s Coalition and Lakas CMD, where Lacson and Yulo are affiliated with, respectively.
Intense political rivalries were previously reported in Isabela, La Castellana, and Himamaylan City. During the 2019 elections, Moises Padilla was placed under Comelec control due to intense political rivalries and election-related violence.
Yulo said he has the support of more than three incumbent mayors in the 5th district, including La Castellana Mayor Rhummyla Nicor Mangilimutan, Moises Padilla Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia Yulo, Hinigaran Mayor Nadie Arceo, Isabela mayoral candidate Miguel Angelo Yulo and his running mate, former Vice Mayor JR Malabor, among others.
He, however, said that he has no official candidates to support in Himamaylan City and Binalbagan.
Asked if there are talks between him and Himamaylan City Vice Mayor Justin Gatuslao, Yulo said “we have no sweet talks.”
But he said “I welcome any support.”
According to Yulo, among those attended the fellowship activity were all the barangay captains of Hinigaran and Moises Padilla, 18 from Isabela,11 from Binalbagan, 16 from Himamaylan City, and almost all barangay captains of La Castellana.*
