- MITCH M. LIPA
Negros Occidental Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer and Sagay City Mayor Alfredo Marañon III will represent the United Negros Alliance or UNegA in a proposed joint committee with Love Negros in an effort to “continue” the merger between the two local political parties.
This was disclosed by UNegA secretary general and Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante, Jr., who confirmed that leaders of the party founded by the late Gov. Alfredo Marañon, Jr. met Tuesday, March 16, with former Third District Rep. Albee Benitez, who reached out to them.
Benitez and Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson will be Love Negros’ representatives to the joint committee, Escalante said.
Marañon is the new UNegA chairman, while Ferrer is the party president.
At the meeting, UNegA renewed its commitment for continued efforts to achieve its merger with Love Negros for the 2022 national and local elections.
Escalante, saying that the Tuesday meet was a venue for consultation among party leaders, indicated the likelihood of a status quo for the top two provincial posts with Lacson and Ferrer running for re-election.
But the pending issue is how to resolve the mayoralty contests if there is merger, he said.
Escalante said the two parties will form a joint committee to resolve local candidates.
He said that the initial proposal discussed was if there is a continuing merger, then both parties should agree not to put up an opposing candidate against the incumbent mayors.
Went have to respect the equity of the incumbent, he pointed out.
UNegA has 13 incumbent mayors and six board members while Love has 17 mayors and nine board members, including ex- officio members.
Escalante said this is one issue which is not easy to resolve since the previous merger with both ending up declaring a free zone in certain areas. – MML
