BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. is now in a dilemma in choosing a presidential candidate for the May 2022 elections, after his family expressed their support to presidential bet Vice President Leni Robredo.
Escalante yesterday admitted he is left to choose between Robredo and former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., after two PDP-Laban presidential contenders Senators Bong Go and Ronald dela Rosa withdrew their candidacies.
Majority of mayors in Negros Occidental, including those affiliated with United Negros Alliance, where Escalante is presently its secretary general, and Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer already signified their support to Marcos.
Escalante said that UNegA members have been given a free hand to choose whom they will support in the presidential race.
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 City mayoral race, expressed his support for Marcos.
Escalante also stressed that he respects the decision of his family to support Vice President Robredo.
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 cities of Sagay and Cadiz, as well as Manapla.
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.
Escalante said he is willing to meet and talk with Marcos when he visits Negros Occidental next month, as he also recalled being invited to meet Robredo when she visited the province. But Escalante said he was not able to meet her, as he had just recovered from COVID-19.*
