• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez and Councilor Derek Palanca, the son of former Victorias City Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca, have both assured the incumbent administration of the Negros Occidental provincial government of their continued support.
This was after Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson visited Mayor Benitez, while the younger Palanca personally met the governor yesterday at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City, to explain why he declared support for the present administration.
The name of the former Mayor Palanca was earlier floated as the possible gubernatorial candidate of the Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino in Negros Occidental, in the elections on May next year.
This prompted Vice Mayor Abelardo Bantug III and nine councilors of Victorias City, including the younger Palanca, to tender their resignation as PDP members, citing the lack of consultation on the plans of their national party to possibly field the elder Palanca as their candidate for the gubernatorial post.
Lacson, who earlier bared his intention to seek for his third term as governor of Negros Occidental, said he cannot choose his opponents.
Both Lacson and former Victorias City Mayor Palanca are members of Love Negros, a local political organization.
Asked on the outcome of his visit to Mayor Benitez, Lacson replied “It was a very positive meeting, it was very reassuring,” but did not elaborate with details.
As far as the Victorias City Council is concerned, he said that that manifesto they all signed “in effect, it means they are supporting the incumbent administration.”
Lacson also believes that the plan to run for governor of former Mayor Palanca is his decision alone, based on his talks with the younger Palanca.
Asked if he will meet with former Mayor Palanca, he replied “For now, I have no reason to have a meeting with him.”
“I just also wish that there will be no family rift among them, because of this,” Lacson said as he told the councilor, “it is even more important that there will be peace in your family.”*
