• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
As the ruling Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) is getting more members in Negros Occidental, the clash among partymates in some contentious areas appears to be unavoidable.
In a press briefing on Monday, PFP president, South Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo Jr., who administered the oathtaking of 210 new members in Negros Island Region, said that the party steering committee has been tasked to resolve possible conflicts.
Incumbent Silay City Mayor Joedith Gallego and his expected challenger, former mayor Mayor Mark Golez, are both PFP members.
In E.B. Magalona, Matthew Louis Malacon, who is being groomed to succeed his father, Mayor Marvin Malacon, reportedly will be challenged also by a PFP member in the 2025 midterm elections.
Whether the rule of the equity of the incumbent will be observed, Tamayo said that the steering committee have rules to follow, which he did not elaborate.
“The party will do its best to provide solutions to all of these,” Tamayo said, adding that he cannot decide on it alone.
Negros Occidental Third District Rep. turned Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director General Jose Francisco Benitez, also a PFP member, said on Monday that they already committed to support the Team Asenso of Silay headed by Golez, and also of E.B. Magalona led by Malacon.
Gallego, however, is unfazed by Golez and his Team Asenso joining the PFP as well.
He said that he already joined the party and took his oath before Tamayo in 2022.
Gallego said that he is hoping the PFP leadership will resolve the conflict soon.
While he did not attend the oathtaking rites of new PFP members, Gallego said he was able to relay his concerns to Tamayo.
Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez, who is the president of Negros Association of Chief Executives, was among the 14 mayors in Negros Island Region, who took their oaths as new PFP members in Bacolod City.
Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Tuesday (Aug. 27) that his Asenso Team in Bacolod City will join the PFP soon.
Tamayo said that the PFP, which will hold a general assembly on Sept. 1, will discuss the creation of its regional chapter in NIR.
Negros Occidental Fifth District Board Member Anthony Dennis Occeño has been designated as the party provincial chairman.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, who also attended the PFP oathtaking rites, said that “if there is a clash, most likely it will be declared as “libre zona (free zone)”.
“Just like in the province, we’re trying to have a common candidate within the coalition, but if that cannot be avoided, the second recourse is to declare ‘libre zona’,” Lacson added. | GB
