Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. said yesterday that the withdrawal of the nomination of Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer by the Nationalist People’s Coalition as its official congressional candidate in the fourth district of Negros Occidental in the 2013 elections, will strengthen the United Negros Alliance.

The withdrawal by the NPC of the CONA (Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance) issued to Ferrer reportedly stemmed from his support to the re-election bid of Marañon, instead of Vice-Governor Genaro Alvarez Jr., who is the party gubernatorial bet in the election next year.

Aside from being a former NPC member, Ferrer also has a local party, United Negros Alliance, from whom he had also had a CONA signed by Marañon, its chairman, who also used to be the NPC provincial chairman.

Marañon said Ferrer will get the full support of the UNA, being its member.

UNA, which was founded by business tycoon Eduardo Cojuangco, is presently chaired by Marañon.

Asked if what NPC did to Ferrer will elicit sympathy votes, Marañon said that, if indeed it is true, automatically, it will also benefit and strengthen UNA, of which the solon is a member.

Ferrer said that while he respects the decision of the NPC, it is the people who will vote for him, and not the political party.

Marañon, accompanied by his vice-gubernatorial bet, Board Member Melvin Ibañez, was monitored to have been frequently visiting the bailiwicks of their opponents in the first and sixth districts of Negros Occidental, in the past days.

But Marañon, who is due to return to Toboso to inaugurate a project, said “It is because we are being invited”. Two days ago, he also led the groundbreaking for a road concreting project in Toboso, before visiting Kabankalan City, as a guest speaker of the Southland College.

Alvarez and his running mate, former San Carlos City Mayor Eugenio Jose Lacson, also made their presence felt in several towns and cities of the province.

Marañon said that he was warmly welcomed by the people in the areas in Negros Occidental, that he had visited.*GPB

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