BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Three Negros Occidental mayors formally endorsed the re-election bid of Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer in the 2022 elections.
The endorsements were separately announced yesterday by EB Magalona Mayor Marvin Malacon, Silay City Mayor Mark Golez, and San Carlos City Mayor Renato Gustilo, who are all members of Love Negros, where Lacson belongs.
Ferrer is the provincial chairman of the United Negros Alliance.
Gustilo said officials of San Carlos City will come up with a formal endorsement for the Lacson-Ferrer tandem during the meeting of the Association of Barangay Captains on Sept. 10.
“I believe that Calatrava, Escalante, Toboso, Don Salvador Benedicto, and Escalante City that belong to the first district, will also endorse the tandem,” he added, stressing that Lacson and Ferrer both performed and managed the province well.
“We belong to Love Negros and there is a coalition between Love Negros and UNegA so we came up with a common candidate,” Gustilo said.
Malacon said he will meet his political leaders today, who also expressed their full support to the Lacson-Ferrer tandem, and that of Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez.
Golez also assured the backing of Asenso Silay Team for the Lacson-Ferrer tandem.
“In the first place, I belong to Love Negros and since there is a coalition between Love Negros and UNegA, there is no reason why I should not endorse the tandem,” he added.
Golez said Asenso Silay will also support the reelection bid of Benitez.
Following reports that former Bacolod Rep. John Orola, who is now a registered voter of Don Salvador Benedicto, may challenge Lacson in the gubernatorial race, UNegA secretary general Salvador Escalante reiterated the full support of the party to the Lacson-Ferrer tandem.
Orola claims he is a member of the PDP-Laban-Cusi faction, while Lacson is a member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition.
Escalante said he has no information if PDP-Laban members in Negros Occidental will be invited to the convention of the political group on Sept. 4, that Orola earlier said, will be held in Bacolod City.*
