• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
As the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) gathers more members in Negros Occidental, clashes among the party mates in some contentious areas appear to be unavoidable in the 2025 midterm elections.
In a press briefing on August 26, PFP president and South Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo Jr., who administered the oathtaking of 210 new members in Negros Island Region, disclosed that the party steering committee has been tasked to resolve the issues.
Incumbent Silay City Mayor Joedith Gallego and his expected challenger, former Mayor Mark Golez, are both PFP members. In E.B. Magalona, Matthew Louis Malacon, who is being groomed to succeed his father, Mayor Marvin Malacon, will reportedly be challenged by a PFP member.
Asked if the rule of the equity of the incumbent will be observed, should there be a clash among party mates, Tamayo said the steering committee has rules to follow, but he did not elaborate further.
Rest assured, the party will do its best to provide solutions to all of these, Tamayo said, stressing also that he cannot not decide it alone.
Negros Occidental 3rd district Representative turned TESDA Secretary Jose Francisco Benitez, also a PFP member, disclosed on Monday that they have already committed to support the Team Asenso of Silay headed by Golez, and Malacon in E.B. Magalona.
Gallego, however, is unfazed by Golez and his Team Asenso joining PFP on August 26, stressing that he was ahead in joining the party in 2022, and took his oath before Tamayo.
But Gallego said he is hoping that the PFP leadership will resolve the matter soon.
While he did not attend the oath taking rites of new PFP members, Gallego said he was able to relay his concerns to Tamayo. Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez, the president of Negros Association of Chief Executives, was among the 14 mayors in Negros Island Region, who took their oaths as new PFP members on Monday in Bacolod City.
Also invited to witness the oath taking rites were Nationalist People’s Coalition members, including Sipalay City Mayor Gina Montilla and Ilog Mayor Paul Alvarez, and La Castellana Mayor Alme Rhummyla Nicor, of the National Unity Party, which have alliances with PFP.
Montilla has clarified that she is still with the NPC, adding that she was only invited to attend the oath taking rites.
On the other hand, Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez also announced yesterday that his Asenso Team in Bacolod City will be joining PFP soon. Tamayo said that PFP, which will have its general assembly on September 1, will discuss the creation of its regional chapter in NIR.
At present, Negros Occidental Board Member Anton Occeño has been designated as the party provincial chairman.
Asked on the possible clashes among PFP members, even among the Love Negros and United Negros Alliance coalition, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, who attended the PFP oathtaking rites on Aug. 26, said that “if there is a clash, most likely it will be declared as “libre zona (free zone).” Just like in the province, we’re trying to have a common candidate within the coalition. But if that cannot be avoided, then probably the second recourse is to declare “libre zona,” Lacson said.*
