BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Twenty eight of the 31 Negros Occidental yesterday backed the tandem of presidential aspirant Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his running mate, Davao City Mayor Sarah Duterte-Carpio.
The 28 Negros Occidental mayors yesterday met with Marcos Jr and Duterte-Carpio, as arranged by Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer, also attended by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and senatorial aspirants under the UniTeam banner.
The meeting was also attended by four of six Negros Occidental solons, including Rep. Gerardo Valmayor (1st district), Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez (3rd district), Rep. Juliet Marie Ferrer (4th district), Rep. Marilou Arroyo (5th district) and House minority leader Stephen Joseph Paduano (Abang-Lingkod partylist group), former Reps. Alfredo Benitez and Mercedes Alvarez, aside from Vice-Gov. Ferrer.
San Carlos City Mayor Renato Gustilo (NPC) yesterday said that the five mayors of the 1st district of Negros Occidental, including Rep. Gerardo Valmayor and his predecessor, former Rep. Julio Ledesma IV, have unanimously expressed their support to the BBM-Sara tandem.
But Gustilo admitted that Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson (NPC) is supporting the presidential bid of Vice President Leni Robredo.
Gustilo said they have discussed their choice of presidential candidate with Gov. Lacson, who is also affiliated with NPC. “That is the beauty of us. We sit down and discuss whom we will support,” he added.
Since Gov. Lacson prefers VP Leni, there is no question, Gustilo said.
Valladolid Mayor Enrique Miravalles, who is the president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines-Negros Occidental chapter, yesterday said that all the 19 municipal mayors of the province are also supporting the BBM-Sara tandem.
Miravalles said they already submitted their manifesto of support to BBM-Sara tandem to Vice Gov. Ferrer.
Asked if she can gave Negros Occidental votes to BBM-Sara tandem, former President Arroyo said “I cannot give the votes. Negros Occidental is made up of very intelligent voters.”
I bring them here so they can talk to the people, Arroyo, who was accompanied by her husband, Mike Arroyo, and son, Pampanga Rep. Mikey Arroyo, said.
“My role is to introduce them to our supporters, because Negros Occidental has always made my father win, and made me win by a big margin from the beginning,” Arroyo stressed.
Marcos Jr. is married to Liza Araneta, of Bago City, Negros Occidental.*
