• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson yesterday raised the possibility of having a “zona libre (free zone)” in areas where clashes between members of local political groups Love Negros and United Negros Alliance (UNegA) cannot be avoided.
Love Negros and UNegA have established a coalition starting from the 2019 elections in Negros Occidental.
“That’s a possibility. If they cannot really agree, we will have to do that,” Lacson said.
The potential conflict areas are Kabankalan City and Valladolid.
Board Member Valentino Miguel Alonso, a member of UNegA, has indicated his intention to run for mayor of Kabankalan City, while former Mayor Isidro Zayco of Love Negros is also eyeing a return as mayor of the component city.
Alonso and Zayco are also both members of the Nationalist People’s Coalition.
Incumbent Mayor of Kabankalan, Benjie Miranda, has declared his intention to seek reelection, with his wife, Divina, as his running mate.
Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, the UNegA president, disclosed on Monday that a member of their political group may run for mayor of Valladolid, as incumbent Mayor and Love Negros member Enrique “Bebot” Miravalles is now on his final term as the local chief executive.
It has yet not been determined if Vice Mayor Roel Yogore will run for mayor Valladolid, but according to Lacson, the “possibility of having UNEgA and Love Negros running against each other are high in Valladolid.”
Ferrer revealed on Tuesday that five of the six mayors in the 4th district of Negros Occidental are supporting his congressional bid.
UNegA will have its general assembly on September 7.
Lacson said he will consult with Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez on when Love Negros will have its general assembly.*