If the usual process for selecting the gubernatorial candidate of the United Negros Alliance is not followed, the party could break up, Negros Occidental Vice Governor Genaro “Lim-ao” Alvarez Jr. said yesterday.

But he stressed that, at the moment, there does not appear to be a split in the UNA.

Last week, Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) said that the mayors of Negros Occidental do not want to see the disintegration of UNA with a showdown between Alvarez and Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. for the gubernatorial post in 2013.

Marañon, UNA chairman, said on Monday that he will abide by the collective decision of the top UNA officials on the party’s gubernatorial bet, and will work to ensure that the party does not break up.

The UNA executive committee will collectively agree when and where to hold the party’s crucial meeting to decide whom it will field for governor in 2013, this may be some time in the first week of September, Marañon said.

Alvarez yesterday reiterated that he cannot comment on whether he will abide by the UNA decision, as he does not know yet what process it will adopt in the selection of the gubernatorial bet.

One way to prevent the break up of UNA is to follow the old selection process that has been practiced by the party, he said.

Alvarez said the process that has been followed in about five past elections is that the congressmen of Negros Occidental meet in Manila to decide on the gubernatorial bet.

When Ambassador Eduardo Cojuangco was active, he presided and the congressmen and the governor each gave their opinion for a consensus to be reached, he said.

Alvarez had earlier announced that he is the Nationalist People’s Coalition choice for governor of Negros Occidental in 2013. The UNA is an umbrella organization of Negros Occidental officials from different political parties, including NPC.

Under the previous selection process for the gubernatorial bet, Alvarez said, ranking national NPC officials also had inputs in it.

Asked if that still holds with four of Negros Occidental’s congressmen coming from the NPC and two from the Liberal Party, Alvarez said maybe top LP officials will have inputs, too.

Alvarez said he does not know if he will have an edge in the selection process if the previous method of doing so is adopted, “We will know when a decision is made,” he said.

Kabankalan Mayor Isidro Zayco has confirmed that NPC top officials have asked him to head their party in Negros Occidental. Marañon, who is supposed to be the incumbent NPC Negros Occidental head, said he had not been informed about his replacement.

The governor had also not been invited to recent NPC meetings in Manila attended by other party members from Negros Occidental.*CPG

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