Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday said the United Negros Alliance, which he heads, will field a full slate from congressmen, governor, vice governor, board members, mayors down to councilors for the 2013 elections in Negros Occidental.

The governor, a first termer who is seeking reelection, is being challenged by his 2010 partner, Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez Jr. An attempt by top leaders of the province to get the two to reach a compromise and prevent a showdown last week had failed.

Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) said another meeting is being arranged this week to, hopefully, prevent a breakup of the long existing political coalition in the province.

“Everybody is hopeful, but somebody is hopeless,” Marañon said, when asked about the planned meeting.

He, however, did not say whom he was referring to as “hopeless”

Marañon also said that, regardless of the outcome of a second meeting, he will convene UNA in the last week of September to announce their full slate for 2013, with the filing of Certificates of Candidacy before the Commission on Elections from October 1 to 5.

The governor also said UNA has yet to choose its vice gubernatorial bet.

Asked for his reaction to Alvarez's plan to run for governor, Marañon said “Very good. As I said, it will be a friendly fight. We can even campaign on the same stage.”

Marañon said UNA remains intact with the majority of its members on his side.

Asked if former Rep. Jose Carlos Lacson will run for congressman of the third district against Benitez, Marañon said, “Kako has been campaigning for a long time”. He did not say if Lacson would be part of his slate.

Benitez, who is widely believed to be supporting Alvarez, has yet to say which gubernatorial bet he will support.

Alvarez, when reached for comment on Marañon's statement that UNA will field a full slate, said that if that is the case, there is no need for a second meeting.

The purpose of the second meeting is to try to see if their group can come up with a common candidate for governor, he said.

Alvarez, who has the support of business tycoon Eduardo Cojuangco, said he is also set to field a full slate of candidates for Negros Occidental under the Nationalist People's Coalition banner.

On Sunday Benitez said he was waiting for Rep. Alfredo Marañon III (Neg. Occ., 2nd District) and Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer (Neg. Occ., 4th District) to return to the country from Singapore so the second meeting can be set.

The two congressmen had gone to Singapore with mayors of Negros Occidental, he said.*CPG

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