Jesus Manuel "Buting" Zayco Dabao, 54, filed his certificate of candidacy for congressman yesterday saying he wants to give the people of the sixth district of Negros Occidental "who have been stuck with no alternative, a choice."

Dabao said he wants to wake up the sixth district of Negros Occidental, which he called a sleeping giant that has an abundant potential, especially in tourism.

It is about time change comes to the sixth district, he said. Mayor Eric Saratan and his running mates in Talisay City, and the dela Cruz family in Don Salvador Benedicto also filed their CoCs yesterday.

Saratan and his team who are running under the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino party of President Gloria Arroyo were accompanied by former Talisay Mayor Amelo Lizares in filing their CoCs .

Running for vice mayor with Saratan is Neil Lizares, while the candidates for councilor are incumbents Alfredo Clavecillas, Daniel Tribaco, Remus Gulmatico and Gorgonio Treyes III, and Manuel Lacson Jr., Felix Hiballes, Renel Garcia, Roberto Angolo, Marissa Lizares and Rafael Ignacio "Chino" Coscolluela.

Cocolluela is the son of former Negros Occidental Gov. Rafael Coscolluela.

In Don Salvador Benedicto, Lawrence Marxlen de la Cruz led his team in filing their CoCs under the Nationalist People's Coalition-United Negros Alliance banner.

Running for vice mayor with him is his mother, incumbent Mayor Cynthia de la Cruz, and for councilor his brother Nehemias de la Cruz Jr., Henry Alcorin, Susan Alisna, David Pontillano, Basiledes Delantar, Antonio Salazar, Dante Rodrigazo, and Vicente Bacordo.

Marxlen's father, former mayor Nehemias dela Cruz, is running for board member of the first district of Negros Occidental and will file his CoC at the COMELEC provincial office in Bacolod City along with Gov. Joseph Marañon tomorrow morning.

Marañon, Vice Gov. Isidro Zayco, congressional candidates Alfredo Marañon III - second district, Jose Carlos Lacson - third district, Jeffrey Ferrer - fourth district and Ignacio Arroyo Jr.- fifth district will march to the COMELEC from the Capitol at 8 a.m. tomorrow to file their CoCs.

Their candidates for provincial board members expected to also join them are de la Cruz and Fernando Leonor - first district, Edgardo Acuña and Miller Serondo - second district, Patrick Lacson and Manuel Kho - third district, Janet Torres and Mae Javellana - fourth district, Melvin Ybañez and Dino Yulo - fifth district, and Adolfo Mangao and Macario Zafra - sixth district.

Rep. Tranquilino Carmona of the first district and Genaro Alvarez of the sixth district filed their CoCs earlier.

Among those set to file their CoCs today are Jorge Araneta Camposano for congressman of the fourth district under the KBL ticket, and Rey Siason for board member of the fourth district under the Liberal Party ticket.

This week is expected to be a busy week for the COMELEC with the deadline for local bets filing of their CoCs set at midnight of Thursday.

DABAO'S BID

Dabao, who is running under the Liberal Party-Drilon wing, is the nephew of Vice Governor Isidro Zayco and a businessman who owns a cable firm in Kabankalan City, builds satellite dishes and is also into real estate.

"Wherever I live, I try to make a difference," Dabao said. That is why he decided to run fro congressman of the sixth district, he said.

He said four towns in the 6th district - Candoni, Ilog, Hinobaa-an and Cauayan have been left behind development-wise and he wants to change that.

It is unfortunate because there are lots and lots of untapped potential in the sixth district, he said.

He also noted that the basic problem of the people is lack of irrigation, storage and post harvest facilities. This is a common problem of many all over the district, I do not know why it has not been addressed, he said.

The people have being waiting for an alternative congressman to make a difference, he said. Dabao, an AB Economics graduate of the University of St. La Salle in Bacolod City, is married to Ma. Therese Escaler with whom he has three children.*CPG

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