But if he and Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. run against each other for the top post of the province, it will definitely be a “very, very friendly fight,” he said.

On Monday, Alvarez said the Nationalist People’s Coalition is endorsing him for governor, while on Tuesday, Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. said he is running for re-election in 2013.

Marañon had also said that if the battle for governorship will be between him and Alvarez, it will be a very friendly fight.

“I said I was endorsed by the NPC to run for governor, but it does not necessarily mean that I will run, pero gina pilit nyo ko ti kondi dalaganan (but you are forcing me so I will run)….wait the end was just a joke,” Alvarez told reporters yesterday.

Like Marañon, Alvarez said, both of them are on friendly terms and talk to each other all the time.

On Maranon’s statement that they can even campaign on the same stage next year, Alvarez said that is okay as long as the governor does the work and he will just get on the stage with him.

Alvarez also denied that he said 17 mayors on a list reported by the media were all his supporters, pointing out that Don Salvador Benedicto Mayor Marxlen de la Cruz was on it, when he knows he is not his.

He has stopped counting mayors who are for or not for him because the numbers keep on changing from day to day, Alvarez added.

Alvarez said it was a big honor for him to be endorsed by the NPC for governor.

He said the endorsement was made by NPC top officials, but he asked the media not to drag the name of Ambassador Eduardo Cojuangco into the fray as he has long retired from politics.

Asked if it was definite that former San Carlos Mayor Eugenio Jose Lacson will be his running mate in 2013, Alvarez gave the same answer – Let’s wait for October.

The COMELEC has set the filing of COCs for the 2013 elections on October 1 to 5 this year.

Asked if the battle for governorship will be between the NPC with him as candidate, and UNA headed by Marañon should he decide to run, Alvarez pointed out that UNA is an umbrella organization of local officials who are members of various national parties.

UNA has members from the NPC, Liberal Party, Nacionalista Party, Lakas CMD and independents like Pulupandan Mayor Magdaleno Peña, he said.

There appears to be an understanding between the NPC, LP and NP that they will not field candidates against each other in 2013, Alvarez noted.

Asked how many members of the provincial board are supporting him, Alvarez would not give a number, saying they are all his friends.*CPG

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