Twenty mayors of Negros Occidental endorsed Thursday night La Carlota City Mayor Juliet Marie Ferrer as a common candidate for governor of Negros Occidental in 2013, in an attempt to prevent a split in the United Negros Alliance, with the looming showdown for the post between Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. and Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez Jr.

EB Magalona Mayor David Albert Lacson yesterday said the mayors, who met at 21st Restaurant in Bacolod City, will present their proposal for a common candidate to UNA founder, business tycoon Eduardo Cojuangco, Marañon and Alvarez.

They hope the proposal is acceptable to their top leaders to try to keep the party together, he said.

Lacson is being pushed to run as vice governor to Ferrer, lawyer Jose. Ma Valencia also said.

Alvarez yesterday said he was not aware of the outcome of the meeting as he was not invited to it, and he still has to listen to the mayors’ proposal.

At a meeting in Manila last week of the six congressmen of Negros Occidental, along with Marañon, Alvarez and Kabankalan Mayor and former governor Isidro Zayco, Cojuangco is said to have informed the group that he is supporting the gubernatorial bid of Alvarez.

But Marañon has announced that he is running for governor, too.

FACE-OFF

Lacson said that if their proposal for a common candidate is not acceptable to the top two contenders, a face-off between Marañon and Alvarez in 2013 will be inevitable.

Ferrer, who is the wife of Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer, daughter of director Kitchie Benedicto-Paulino and granddaughter of former Ambassador Roberto Benedicto, said she is honored that she is being endorsed by the mayors but a lot of factors have to be considered.

She said it would be difficult for her to leave La Carlota where she has many projects and plans yet to be implemented.

However, if having her as the common candidate will unite the province, who is she to say no? she said.

But, she also said that before any decision can be made, she has to consult with party elders whom she identified as Cojuangco, Marañon and Alvarez, and her husband, as the job would entail a change in their family life.

CONGRESSMEN PRESENT

Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) said he, Rep. Alejandro Mirasol (Neg. Occ., 5th District) and Rep. Ferrer were at the meeting of the mayors Thursday.

The meeting was held to find a solution to prevent a showdown between Marañon and Alvarez in 2013, he said.

Alternative common candidates were proposed but negotiations to try to break an impasse are still ongoing, he said.

Asked if a second meeting of the top leaders of the province would still be held in Manila, Benitez would only say “We’ll see”.

Lacson said the mayors who are supporting the endorsement for a common candidate are Marxlen de la Cruz of Don Salvador Benedicto and Evello Valencia Jr. of Toboso – first district; Patrick Escalante of Cadiz City and Lourdes Escalante of Manapla – second district;

Himself for EB Magalona, Eric Saratan of Talisay, Jose Montelibano of Silay and Andrew Montelibano of Murcia – third district; Ferrer of La Carlota, Jose Maria Alonso of Pontevedra, Ramon Torres of Bago City, Mario Magno of San Enrique and Romel Yogore of Valladolid – fourth district;

Emmanuel Aranda of Binalbagan, Hermilo Aguilar of Hinigaran, Alberto Nicor Jr. of La Castellana, and Francisco Nazareno of Moises Padilla – fifth district, and Isidro Zayco of Kabankalan City – sixth district.

Sagay Mayor Rafael Leo Cueva was not present but approved the proposal, while Benitez said Victorias Mayor Severo Palanca is also supporting the move, Lacson added.*CPG

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