Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday said he believes the United Negros Alliance congressmen of the province will listen to their mayors in the choice of their gubernatorial bet for 2013.

Eighteen of the 31 mayors of Negros Occidental Monday expressed their support for the governor, but the number is expected to increase to 21 with three more said to have taken similar stands, former Manapla Mayor Manuel Escalante confirmed yesterday.

Of the three, one comes from the north and two from the south, Escalante, who is an executive assistant of the governor, said.

Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez Jr. earlier said the choice of UNA’s top candidates for Negros Occidental in the past has been made in a meeting of just the governor and six congressmen of the province with their coalition’s founder, Ambassador Eduardo Cojuangco Jr.

It has been rumored that Alvarez is the favored candidate of Cojuangco for governor, but the ambassador has yet to issue an official statement.

Marañon said the top level meeting of UNA with the ambassador to decide candidates for 2013 is likely to be held next month.

“I believe the congressmen will listen to their mayors. How can you say no to your mayors?” he said.

Escalante said the majority of the mayors have rallied behind the governor because they do not want UNA to break up. “Nobody can divide us except ourselves,” he said.

Board Member Melvin Ibañez said “We have to respect the equity of incumbent that is the major policy of UNA.”

“We will wait until August when the UNA hierarchy decides with finality”, he added.

The UNA practice has been that the congressmen, at a meeting with Cojuangco, select the candidate for governor, he said.

The gubernatorial bet then selects the vice governor and board members, the congressmen choose the mayors of their districts, and the mayors their vice mayors and councilors, Ibañez said.*CPG

back to top