An official of the Liberal Party (LP)in Malabon City Wednesday ruled out the possibility of actress Angelica dela Cruz filling up the seat vacated by her brother Edward who died of a vehicular accident in Pampanga, saying that a partymate will likely occupy the position.

Malabon Vice Mayor Antolin “Len-Len” Oreta III, Liberal Party (LP) chairman in Malabon, said that Dela Cruz will not qualify as she is not yet a member of the party where a successor should come from.

Oreta said that Melvin “Tiger” Mañalac, who placed seventh in the recent May 10 elections, has been nominated by the party for the vacant position as the logical person to replace Edward dela Cruz.

This came as the actress said over an earlier TV interview that she is still awaiting the reply from the offices of both the mayor and the vice mayor regarding her alleged request to recommend her for the vacated post.

The actress was quoted as hoping that her request to replace her brother would be granted even for just one year to be able to pursue what her brother failed to do to his supposed constituents because of his untimely death.

“Malabon residents have spoken when they asked for Mañalac. Taking cognizance of the overwhelming support for Mañalac, the people’s will should prevail,” Oreta said.

Oreta said that he did right by citing the Local Government Code which provides that replacement for vacant positions in the city council as a result of death, must come from partymates.

Oreta, a first cousin of President Benigno Aquino III, is the son of former senator Tessie Aquino-Oreta.

The vice mayor said Mañalac is a member of the LP since May 14, 2010, prior to Dela Cruz’s death on June 7, 2010, days after he won a counsel seat in his district.

As chairman of the LP in Malabon, Oreta said it is his task to recommend the possible successor.

Aside from the recommendation from an official of the LP, Mañalac was also recommended by organizations and residents of Malabon City, Oreta said.

He said it is now up to the leadership of the LP and President Aquino to approve the credentials of the nominee, based on recommendations,” the vice mayor said.

If his recommendations will be approved, it will be Mañalac’s second time that he will replace the position vacated through death by a council member.

It will be recalled that he was nominated by a party to replace and continue the term left by his father the late Councilor Alfonso “Boyong” Mañalac, a bemedalled police officer who died while serving his term as councilor last year.