Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday announced he is running for reelection in 2013 after 18 of the 31 mayors of the province assured him of their support.

“Since the mayors want me to run, I have decided to run…With their support, how can I say no,” Marañon announced before a gathering of mayors, who had gone to his office at the Capitol in Bacolod City, to receive P2.2 million in assistance for various projects.

The governor’s announcement that was met with applause was made after EB Magalona Mayor David Lacson said that if Marañon seeks reelection, he will get the support of the majority of the mayors of the province, who are members of the United Negros Alliance.

Marañon said he had the support of 18 mayors and expects the number to increase.

Lacson said the mayors want to keep the UNA intact and he expects more to rally behind the governor. They also want Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez Jr. to remain the running mate of the governor, he added.

The UNA rule on the equity of the incumbent should cover Marañon, Alvarez and the mayors running for the same posts they are holding now, in 2013, Lacson said.

The show of support for Marañon came amid speculations that Alvarez would be the UNA gubernatorial bet for 2013, with the support of some congressmen.

Mayors from the sixth district where Alvarez comes from were not present at the gathering of their colleagues yesterday, while there were only two mayors from the first district, headed by Rep. Julio Ledesma IV.

But Kabankalan Mayor Isidro Zayco and Hinoba-an Mayor Teresa Bilbao of the sixth district said they were not at the gathering because they were not invited.

Zayco, former governor of Negros Occidental, said he would support whomever UNA endorses for governor.

He also said he has no interest in running for governor or vice governor in 2013 as alleged by some, but he definitely will seek reelection as mayor of Kabankalan.

Among the mayors who were at the “show of support” gathering at the Capitol yesterday were:

FIRST DISTRICT: Evello Valencia Jr. of Toboso, who categorically said he would support Marañon’s reelection bid; and Marxlen de la Cruz, who said he would abide by UNA’s choice.

Not present were Gerardo Valmayor Jr. of San Carlos City, Melecio Yap of Escalante and Araceli Somosa of Calatrava.

Yap on Sunday said that Ledesma preferred Alvarez for governor since Marañon had said he would only go for one term as governor.

Yap also said it is not for him to decide whom he will support for governor, saying that like a good soldier, he will wait for instructions from Ledesma.

SECOND DISTRICT: Rafael Leo Cueva of Sagay City, Patrick Escalante of Cadiz City and Lourdes Escalante of Manapla aired their all-out support for the governor.

THIRD DISTRICT: Except for Severo Palanca of Victorias City, the four other mayors of the third district also aired their support for the governor.

They were Jose Montelibano of Silay City, Eric Saratan of Talisay City, Lacson of EB Magalona and Andrew Montelibano of Murcia.

Lacson said it was difficult for Palanca, who has been ill, to attend the meeting but he and the governor are on talking terms.

FOURTH DISTRICT: Juliet Marie Ferrer – mayor of La Carlota City and wife of Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer (Neg. Occ., 4th District), Ramon Torres of Bago City, Jose Maria Alonso of Pontevedra and Mario Magno of San Enrique joined the show of support gathering for the governor. Not present were Magdaleno Peña of Pulupandan and Romel Yogore of Valladolid.

FIFTH DISTRICT: Five of the six mayors of the fifth district were present yesterday -- Emmanuel Aranda of Binalbagan, Hermilo Aguilar of Hinigaran, Francis Malabor of Isabela, Alberto Nicor Jr. of La Castellana and Francisco Nazareno of Moises Padilla. Not present was Agustin Ernesto Bascon of Himamaylan City.

The governor said he will seek a meeting with former Ambassador Eduardo Cojuangco, UNA founder, to inform him of the position of the mayors.

He is waiting for the proper time to see Cojuangco, who has not been well, the governor said.

UNA has a rule on the equity of the incumbent, and Avarez will still be his running mate in 2013, he added.

Marañon said he was not aware that the mayors would be at his office yesterday to show their support for him. The governor said he was surprised that they came.

He also said he does not hold grudges against mayors who are not happy with him. If there are those who are not happy, he will talk to them, there is no problem that cannot be solved, the governor said.

The governor said he will continue to give projects to towns and cities of Negros Occidental, even to areas where the mayor may have a grudge against him.

“As much as possible, let us have less politics, and just work,” he said.

Lacson said the mayors did not need to issue a manifesto of support for the governor, the fact that they were at his office shows that they are solidly behind Marañon, they are not backtracking.

The mayors will inform their congressmen of their positions, he said.

Vice Governor Alvarez, when reached for comment, said he had no problem with the mayors’ show of support for the governor.

He said he had nothing to say that was bad or good, the decision on the UNA bets will be made at a meeting of the six congressmen of Negros Occidental and the governor with Cojuangco.

On the absence of the mayors of the sixth district at the meeting yesterday morning, Alvarez said he was not aware that they were invited to it.*CPG

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