• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Occidental 6th District Rep. Mercedes Alvarez on Friday (April 26) confirmed that she will seek a second term as a member of the House of Representatives.
Alvarez said she has still two terms left as she remained unfazed by reports that the Partido Demokratiko ng Pilipinas-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) may field former Hinobaan Mayor Ernesto Estrao as their congressional candidate in the district.
“Anybody can run. If that’s their decision, I cannot do anything about it,” the lawmaker said, adding that she had been supporting former President Rodrigo Duterte, the leader of PDP-Laban, during his presidency, and worked with PDP-Laban members, both the in House and the Senate.
Alvarez has served as the representative of the 6th District for almost 12 years now.
In 2019, she was replaced by her father, Genaro Alvarez, after completing her three terms.
“I think it is still early to talk about the elections, which is still next year. I will just focus on doing my job in the meantime,” Alvarez said. | GB
