Members of the United Negros Alliance have been given a free hand in choosing their presidential candidate in the May elections, its secretary general, Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr., said Jan. 13.
Majority of UNegA mayors earlier expressed their support to the presidential bid of former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
But it remains a dilemma for Escalante, as of this time.
Following the withdrawal of PDP-Laban presidential bets, senators Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go and Ronald dela Rosa, Escalante, who is also a member of the party, said that he is left to choose between Marcos and Vice President Leni Robredo, who is being supported by his family.
Escalante said he respects the decision of his family to support Robredo.
He also revealed that the Marañon clan in Sagay City is supporting Robredo “as she is their personal friend”. Outgoing Sagay City Mayor Alfredo Marañon III is running unopposed in the 2nd district congressional race.
But Sagay City Vice Mayor Narwin Javelosa, who is also unopposed in the Sagay mayoral race, expressed his support to Marcos.
As for Manapla Mayor Manuel “Manolet” Escalante, the UNegA secretary general disclosed that he is still undecided.
The 2nd district of Negros Occidental is composed of the cities of Sagay and Cadiz, as well as Manapla town.
“If I make my decision and the whole Cadiz City will campaign for whoever I will choose, it should not be because I just saw them on Facebook,” Escalante said. “It is unfair for the Cadiznons if I make my decision haphazardly,” he stressed. | GB
