BY CARLA P. GOMEZ
“We grieve the passing of our founder but our loss motivates us to continue the legacy and values that he left,” the United Negros Alliance officials and members yesterday said following the death of former Negros Occidental governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. Thursday night.
“We commit to continue to uphold honesty, integrity and professionalism in the public service, for which Gov. Marañon was admired. We shall aim to achieve his vision of a better and progressive province of Negros Occidental,” the UNegA statement said.
Marañon, at the time of his death, was chairman of UNegA. The party’s president is Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer and its secretary general is Cadiz Mayor Salvador Escalante.
The UNegA officers and members yesterday expressed their deepest sympathies to the family of the former governor.
“Gov. Marañon is known to many as a compassionate, honest, and humble leader. He has devoted his time and political career in ensuring the continuous progress and development of the province of Negros Occidental. His heart was with the marginalized and underprivileged.
He advocated programs that uplift their living conditions. He was loved and respected by many,” they said.
Marañon was more than a leader, “he was our mentor and our friend who had generously shared his time and wisdom to us and who had inspired us to perform our best”, they said.
Ferrer said the UNegA members will meet to discuss the loss of their chairman at a later date.
“There is no need for politics because we are united here in Negros,” he said.*
