• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer enjoined candidates and their supporters to avoid resorting to negative campaigning by deliberately spreading negative information about their opponents.
“For me, I don’t believe in negative campaigning,” Lacson said.
“Filipino voters are turned off by the mudslinging and negative campaigning,” said Lacson, who is seeking reelection for his third and last term.
Ferrer, who is a congressional aspirant in the fourth district, said he has noticed that even supporters of candidates engage in negative campaigning.
Noting that every election, issues of corruption, among others, surface, Ferrer said that candidates should present their platforms of government, and not just make accusations without evidence or proof.
Should there be, file cases against them, and not wait for the election period, he added.
Lacson also likened the election to a festival, where there are a lot of noise and gimmicks just to get the support of voters.
“So let’s enjoy it. Never mind the noise. But there should no violence,” the governor said.
On his chances to get reelected, Lacson said: “I’m in a very good position to be able to serve my third and last term as governor”.
Former Victorias City mayor Francis Frederick Palanca, a gubernatorial candidate of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino, is among the two candidates challenging Lacson in the gubernatorial race. | GB
