• GILBERT P. BAYORAN

The Liberal Party (LP) has started to consolidate its forces in Negros Island for the 2025 midterm elections, fielding newbies and returning politicians.
LP secretary general Teddy Baguilat yesterday said they are happy that the political party has fielded a full slate in Talisay City, under the leadership of businessman Samuel Siote, who is running for mayor, with Councilor Gab Villacin as his running mate.
Noting that many feared joining the LP, Baguilat, however, praised the Team SAGA group of Siote and Villacin, whom he described as “principled” and “brave”.
They are only among the few LP candidates in Negros Occidental, he added.
But it is a different situation in Negros Oriental, the former Ifugao solon said, where they have the Remollos, Teveses, among other prominent families.
Outgoing Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe “Ipe” Remollo is a congressional candidate of LP in the 2nd district of Negros Oriental, with his son, Felipe Claudio, running for his vacated position.
Ipe Remollo chairs the LP in Negros Oriental.
Pryde Henry Teves is also running for the Negros Oriental gubernatorial position, while his aunt, Janice Teves-Gaston, also joined the race for the 3rd district congressional district. Both are LP candidates.
Baguilat is also the second nominee for the Mamayang Liberal (ML) party list group, with former Senator Leila de Lima as number one nominee, and former deputy Speaker Erin Tanada as the 3rd nominee.
LP also fielded Kiko Pangilinan and Bam Aquino for the Senate posts.
“Our purpose is to win in 2025 to prepare for 2028,” said Baguilat in a press briefing in Talisay City.
We need to have strategic victories in 2025. We need to win one or two senate seats, in order to add the bloc of Senator Risa Hontiveros. Then we need to increase our numbers in Congress, where they currently have seven representatives. We are looking to increase it to 20, the former solon said.
Baguilat also said that if Team SAGA will win in Talisay City, “this should be the hub, or center of Liberal (Party) in Negros Occidental.”
In 2028, it is not necessarily to win the presidency, what we need is that we will be allies with the winning president, Baguilat, who also met yesterday former Negros Occidental Governor Rafael Coscolluela yesterday.
On the other hand, Siote and Villacin yesterday assured the ML of their full support, in response to the support also extended to them.*