• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson on Wednesday, Aug. 21, raised the possibility of having a “zona libre” (free zone) in areas, where a clash between members of Love Negros and United Negros Alliance (UNegA) cannot be avoided.
Love Negros and UNegA have established a coalition since the 2019 elections in Negros Occidental.
“That’s a possibility. If they cannot really agree, we will have to do that,” Lacson said.
Probable conflict areas are Kabankalan City and Valladolid.
Sixth District Board Member Valentino Miguel Alonso, a member of UNegA, has indicated his intention to run for mayor of Kabankalan City while former Mayor Isidro Zayco, a Love Negros member, is also eyeing a return to the same position.
Alonso and Zayco are both members of the Nationalist People’s Coalition.
Incumbent Mayor Benjie Miranda also declared his intention to seek reelection with his wife, Divina, as his runningmate.
Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer, the UNegA president, said that a member of their political group may run for mayor of Valladolid.
Incumbent Mayor Enrique Miravalles is now on his final term as the local chief executive.
Miravalles is a member of Love Negros.
It was not determined yet if Vice Mayor Roel Yogore will run for mayor.
“The possibility of having UNEgA and Love Negros running against each other is high in Valladolid,” Lacson said.
Meanwhile, Ferrer said that five of the six mayors in the fourth district are supporting his congressional bid.
UNegA will hold its general assembly on Sept. 7. | GB
