BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The coalition between rival local political groups United Negros Alliance and Love Negros – is “going strong”, UNegA secretary general and Cadiz mayor Salvador Escalante said.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, of Love-Negros, administered Friday the oath-taking of newly-elected officials of UNegA, that is now headed by Sagay City Mayor Alfredo Marañon III, to replace his father, the late Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr.
Escalante said the presence of Lacson at the UNegA party event was agreed on by party members.
“He was invited as governor,” he stressed.
Escalante said UNegA and Love-Negros will work for a unified slate in the 31 towns and cities of Negros Occidental, in the 2022 synchronized elections.
He quoted Lacson as saying, “If possible, there should be equity of the incumbent at the local level.”
That means whoever are the incumbent officials will automatically be the official candidates of the coalition at the local level, the mayor said.
In areas where there is no political conflict, “there is no need for each party to field candidates,” Escalante said. During the election, Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer was re-elected as party president, Escalante also remained as secretary-general, and 4th District Rep. Juliet Marie Ferrer was named treasurer.*
