• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The United Negros Alliance (UNEgA) is keeping its hands off the Negros Occidental Third District congressional race in the May 2025 midterm elections.
Its representative, Jose Francisco Benitez, has been appointed as the director-general of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer, UNegA president, said yesterday that they have to respect the leadership of the third district.
The caretaker of the district has yet to be named.
The UNegA will hold a general assembly on Sept. 7 in Talisay City, Negros Occidental to present its candidates and resolve concerns among their members in the different towns and cities of Negros Occidental.
Fourth District Board Member Jose Benito Alonso is also expected to be formally announced as the party vice gubernatorial candidate in tandem with Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, who will seek a third and final term under the UNegA-Love Negros unity ticket.
Ferrer said that there will be no clash between candidates of UNegA and Love Negros in the May 2025 elections.
Meanwhile, Ferrer, who is eyeing a return as fourth district congressman, said that he would welcome any opponent.
Reports said that he may be challenged by Leah Delfinado, former regional director of the Department of Public Works and Highways in Western Visayas.
“This is an election, anybody can run as long as they are qualified,” Ferrer said, noting that he had ended victorious in the previous elections in the fourth district.
Ferrer also brushed aside insinuations that his opponent is being backed by a powerful and influential person.
He also announced that UNegA will support the congressional bid of Third District Board Member Manuel Frederick Ko to represent the Abang Lingkod partylist group.
Incumbent Abang Lingkod party list Rep. Stephen Joseph Paduano is now on his last term as a member of the House of Representatives. | GB
