• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The three names being eyed to be the vice gubernatorial candidates of the United Negros Alliance for the 2025 mid-term elections are not yet final, Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. disclosed yesterday.
Escalante, the UNegA secretary general, admitted that they have yet to talk to the three candidates.
As the name of La Castellana Mayor Alme Rhummyla Nicor Mangilimutan has recently cropped up as a possible candidate of UNegA for the vice gubernatorial position, Escalante said he was instructed by Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer to call for a general assembly among their members in the first week of December.
Mangilimutan, currently on her third term as mayor of La Castellana, earlier hinted that she is open to such a possibility.
Escalante admitted that the name of Mangilimutan was not taken up as among the shortlist during the initial meeting of UNegA. He, however, said it is not limited to three candidates.
Ferrer, who confirmed his intention to regain his former position as congressman of the 4th district of Negros Occidental, said that the UNegA vice gubernatorial bet will come from southern Negros.
The identity of the UNegA vice gubernatorial bet is expected to be known next month.
Top officials of UNegA have already expressed their support for the planned reelection bid of Eugenio Jose Lacson, which will be for his third term as governor of Negros Occidental.
It was also agreed by Love Negros that the running mate of Lacson in the 2025 elections will come from UNegA,
As soon as UNegA makes its choice for vice gubernatorial bet, Escalante said they will make a formal endorsement of the tandem, and they will request Love Negros, which is affiliated with Lacson, to do the same.
Love Negros members will reportedly have a get together next month, as officials of the Regional Development Council 6, chaired Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, is slated to visit Macau on Dec. 7.*
