Three Negros Occidental mayors have formally endorsed the re-election bid of Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Vice Gov. Jeffrey in next year’s election.
EB Magalona Mayor Marvin Malacon, Silay City Mayor Mark Golez and San Carlos City Mayor Renato Gustilo, separately announced yesterday their support for Lacson and Ferrer. All three mayors are members of local political group, Love Negros.
Gustilo said that all elected officials of San Carlos City will come up with an official endorsement for the Lacson-Ferrer tandem during the meeting of the Association of Barangay Captains, on Sept. 10.
“I believe Calatrava, Escalante, Toboso, Don Salvador Benedicto and Escalante City, which all belong to the first district, will also be endorsing the tandem,” Gustilo added, stressing that both Lacson and Ferrer performed and managed the province well.
“We belong to Love-Negros and there is a coalition between Love Negros and UNegA for us to come up with a common candidate”, Gustilo pointed out.
Malacon said that he will have a meeting today with his political leaders in EB Magalona, who also expressed their full support to the Lacson-Ferrer tandem as well as that of Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez.
On the other hand, Golez assured the support of the Asenso Silay Team for the Lacson-Ferrer tandem.
“In the first place, I belong to Love-Negros and since there is a coalition between Love-Negros and Unega, there is no reason why I should not endorse the tandem,” Golez said.
He added that Asenso Silay will also support the re-election bid of Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez.
As to the reports that former Bacolod Rep. John Orola, who transferred his voter registration to Don Salvador Benedicto, will challenge Lacson in the gubernatorial race, UNegA secretary general Salvador Escalante reiterated the full support of the party to the Lacson-Ferrer tandem.
Orola claims he is a member of PDP-Laban Cusi faction, while Lacson is a member of Nationalists People’s Coalition.
Escalante said he has no information if PDP-Laban members in Negros Occidental will be invited to the Sept. 4 convention of the party in Bacolod City, as announced earlier by Orola.
He admitted that Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and then Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez administered their oath as new PDP-Laban members in Bacolod City and Victorias City in 2017. — GB
