Eighty-five percent of local officials and solons of Negros Occidental are supporting the tandem of presidential bet Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his running mate, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, Vice-Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer said Feb. 7.
Former 3rd District Rep. Alfredo Benitez, PDP-Laban provincial chairman, and 22 other party members in Negros Occidental, also signed a manifesto declaring their support for the BBM-Sara tandem, a day before the official start of the campaign period for national candidates in the May 9 polls.
The BBM-Sara tandem will hold an opening salvo Feb. 8 at the 50,000-seater Philippine Arena in Bulacan.
Benitez is the son of the late Jolly Benitez, who served as deputy minister of the Human Settlement under the administration of the late President Ferdinand Marcos, while the wife of Ferrer, 4th District Rep. Juliet Marie Ferrer, is the granddaughter of the late former Ambassador Roberto Benedicto.
Ferrer, who is attending the BBM-Sara proclamation rally at the Philippine Arena, claimed that 25 of 31 mayors of Negros Occidental had committed to back the tandem during the visit of Marcos and Duterte-Carpio in the province in December last year.
More than a month after the declaration of support, Ferrer said the number of supporters has increased, and cited the support of solons from the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th districts of Negros Occidental, among others.
The vice governor said negotiations is also underway with the solon of the 1st District of Negros Occidental, while the 2nd district congressman has yet to declare support for the BBM-Sara tandem.
Incumbent Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, Rep. Gerardo Valmayor (1st district), Rep. Genaro Alvarez (6th district), and Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya are affiliated with the Nationalist People’s Coalition.
But Ferrer said that he and Gov. Lacson agreed to respect the decision of the mayors on their choices of national candidates.
He also claimed that Gasataya will likely support the BBM-Sara tandem, but said that he will wait for the official pronouncement of the solon.
Ferrer admitted that he was bashed on social media for his support to Marcos and Duterte-Carpio.
While he respects them, the vice governor called on his detractors to respect also his decision. — GB
