• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Victorias City Councilor Derek Palanca, a vice mayoral aspirant, has joined his colleagues in supporting the tandem of Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Fourth District Board Member Jose Benito Alonso in the May 2025 midterm elections.
“I think it is clear that ever since, my stand is with the party,” Palanca said on Monday (Sept. 30).
He issued the statement as his father, former Victorias City Mayor Francis Frederick “Wantan” Palanca, is expected to challenge Lacson’s reelection bid, based on the pronouncement of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) deputy secretary general for Visayas Jesus Hinlo that he is “99 percent sure” Palanca will run for governor.
Still, the councilor said there is no announcement from his father yet, adding that he has not heard anything from him.
Following the announcement of Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez that he will run for congressman in the Third District, Vice Mayor Abelardo Bantug III formally accepted the party endorsement for him to run as mayor, with Palanca as his running mate.
Bantug said that he will continue the unfinished projects of Benitez and introduce more projects along the way, especially in agriculture.
He also said that they will fully support the Lacson-Alonso tandem for governor and vice governor.
The slate of the Bantug-Palanca tandem also includes reelectionist Councilors Dino Acuña, Danilo de Asis Jr., Daylen Tornea-Hofileña, Joji Adorio-Larraga, Hermie Millan, Dexter Senido and Warlito Undar, and councilor aspirants Juvy Pepello, Vincent Marie Roa and Richard Cuaycong.
All of them are members of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, the political party of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. | GB
