Doctor Theodore Abrenilla has been chosen to take over the vice-mayoral bid of his brother, Fortunato “Bic-bic” Abrenilla who died of heart failure at the age of 69 last month.
Theodore has the support of the Abrenilla family and the late mayor’s camp under the Partido Demokratoko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), said Jagna Mayor Bonifacio Vertudes, Jr.
According to Vertudes, the party and the family agreed for Theodore to run as vice mayor at a meeting in the Abrenilla home during Fortunato’s 40th day of death last Friday.
Based on Commission on Elections (Comelec) rules, an eligible individual can replace a dead candidate given that both have the same family name.
Theodore, younger brother of Fortunato who was on his last term as mayor, is a doctor of medicine practicing out of a clinic at the Mactan Doctors’ Hospital in Lapu-Lapu City.
Thedore will be the running mate of Vertudes who was elected vice mayor in the previous polls and took over the mayoralty after Fortunato’s death.
Vertudes earlier admitted that Fortunato’s death would “slightly” affect the party’s bid but noted that their group remained formidable.
“Although naa gyu’y epekto gamay, pero we have to move on kay ang-ang man nang magpaluya-luya. Mo-move-on gyud…mobarog,” said Vertudes.
Vertudes described Fortunato as a “good” person who has helped many residents of the town throughout the course of his three-term service as mayor.
“Maajuhon baya to si mayor [Abrenilla], daghang tawo…among gi-consider si mayor nga importante jud sa grupo,” he added.
Fortunato died of cardiac arrest at the Teodoro Galagar District Hospital in Jagna on January 14.
He was admitted to the hospital three days before his death after experiencing cough for eight straight days.
According to the Comelec, Theodore has until noon of Election Day in May to officially take over the vice-mayoral candidacy. (R. Tutas)