• GILBERT P. BAYORAN

Former Hinobaan Mayor Ernesto Estrao yesterday raised the possibility of seeking a congressional post in southern Negros, under the banner of PDP Laban, the party where former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte served as the chairman emeritus.
But there is nothing final yet, Estrao yesterday said, adding that he has yet to take his oath as district chairman of PDP Laban of southern Negros.
If Estrao gets the endorsement of PDP Laban, he will be challenging Rep. Mercedes Alvarez for the 6th district congressional post in Negros Occidental.
Estrao, who served as Hinobaan mayor for nine years, lost his bid for the vice mayoralty post of the municipality during the 2022 elections.
The former Hinobaan mayor was observed to be making the rounds in the different towns and cities of the 6th district, and has been meeting with different multi sectoral groups, which he claims are urging him to run for the 6th district congressional post.
Estrao said that Palawan Rep. Chito Alvarez is presently the PDP Laban national president, with Negrense Atty. JV Hinlo occupying the position as Vice President for Visayas.
On Tuesday, Negros Occidental Board Member Manuel Frederick Ko also confirmed his intention to run as partylist representative of Abang Lingkod after his third term expires.
The last term of incumbent Abang Lingkod partylist Rep. Stephen Joseph Paduano is slated to end in 2025.*