• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The United Negros Alliance (UNegA) is standing firm on its plan to field its own candidate for governor of Negros Occidental in the 2028 elections.
Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr., UnegA secretary general, said on Tuesday, Sept. 15 that the alliance has maintained the position ever since.
His remarks came amid discussions on possible contenders for governor in 2028, including Negros Occidental Third District Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez and Second District Rep. Alfredo Marañon III.
Neither Benitez nor Marañon has formally confirmed plans to seek the gubernatorial post.
Escalante said the names being considered within UNegA include Marañon, Fourth District Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer, and himself.
However, he clarified that the final candidate would not necessarily come from the three names.
Escalante said the matter would still have to be taken up during a UNegA general assembly.
He added that there are ongoing discussions with some mayors about the 2028 political lineup, although no mayor has formally joined the alliance at this time.
“There are talks,” he said.
Escalante said there had been discussions with Love Negros two or three months ago, and recently Deputy Speaker Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, a key Love Negros official, said the selection should be made through consensus between the two groups rather than by any single individual.
“For me, both Love Negros and UNegA should be given the opportunity to discuss it,” Benitez said.
The Bacolod City lawmaker, however, said he would support his son, Javier Miguel Benitez, should he decide to run for the gubernatorial post.
For his part, Escalante is still noncommittal about his own political plans in 2028.
“Your guess is as good as mine,” he said, adding that he is also considering retiring from politics.
He noted that by 2028, he would have spent about 34 years in politics. | GPB
