BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
There is no truth to speculations that he is running for vice governor of Negros Occidental, Toboso Mayor Richard Jaojoco clarified yesterday.
“One hundred percent. I won’t be running against Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer”, Jaojoco stressed.
Now on his last term as mayor of Toboso, Jaojoco, however, confirmed that he is running for councilor of Toboso.
He strongly debunked reports that he was allegedly approached by former Rep. John Orola, who is reportedly eyeing the gubernatorial post in the next year elections, and offered the position.
Jaojoco and Ferrer are both United Negros Alliance members.
United Negros Alliance secretary general Salvador Escalante Jr. also dismissed it as “impossible”, as both are UNegA members.
Jaojoco described his relationship with Vice Gov. Ferrer as “very close,” as he also considers him as his elder brother.
He also confirmed that Maria Luisa dela Cruz, who is the vice-mayoralty candidate of his wife, Madonna, also joined the UNegA.
Madonna, who is running for mayor of Toboso, is the niece of the late Gov. Alfredo Maranon Jr.
Jaojoco also said that whole UNegA team in Toboso, including Ma. Luisa dela Cruz, who had joined their group, is strongly committed to support the tandem of Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Vice Gov. Ferrer in the May elections next year.
He also confirmed that UNegA and Love Negros declared Toboso as a “free zone” in next year’s elections, as the clash among members of two political groups could no longer be avoided.
Love Negros is fielding either former Mayor Evelio Valencia or incumbent Vice Mayor Jesse Rex Bartolome for the mayoralty post in Toboso.*
