• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Partido Demokratikong Pilipino (PDP) deputy secretary general for Visayas, Atty. Jesus ‘Jayvee’ Hinlo disclosed on Wednesday that he is 99 percent sure that former Victorias City Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca will run against incumbent Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson in the 2025 gubernatorial race in Negros Occidental.
For me it’s 99 percent, but the one percent will be answered by him (Palanca), when he says in public that he will run for governor, Hinlo said.
When he was mayor of Victorias City, Palanca was affiliated with Love Negros, where Lacson also belongs. However, early this year, Palanca took his oath as a PDP member in Cebu.
As to the running mate of Palanca, Hinlo raised the possibility that he will be running alone. But we will ally ourselves with those who will not support Gov. Bong, he added.
The Lacson – Jose Benito Alonso tandem already has the support of the Love Negros and United Negros Alliance coalition.
With regard to their congressional candidates, he announced that former Hinobaan Mayor Ernesto Estrao will challenge Representative Mercedes Alvarez in the 6th district congressional seat.
If we cannot have PDP candidates in other areas, we can have alliances, even if they belong to other political parties, Hinlo further said.
As far as Bacolod City is concerned, he said they may not field candidates. But Hinlo said they are open for talks with any candidates.
Hinlo also announced that he will be signing the Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA) of PDP candidates in Negros Island Region.
If approved by the party, Hinlo also declared that he is available for a senatorial position.
“That’s the only way on my chances to win”, he said, noting that Negros Occidental had a senator in the person of Oscar Ledesma, back in 1963.
If we keep on dividing ourselves, we will only be supporting candidates who are from other areas, Hinlo said.*
