The Liberal Party will come up with its final slate on September 20 that it will include whoever it will adopt as guest candidates, Bacolod Councilor Sonya Verdeflor said yesterday.

Verdeflor said this will also be the time when she and her party-mates, or what they call the “First Five,” will finally decide on their direction for 2013.

She said they were invited by Mayor Evelio Leonardia and Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson to a consultation meeting recently where they discussed some questions.

But nothing is final until they file their certificates of candidacy on October 1 to 5, she added.

Verdeflor said she and her party mates, Councilors Archie Baribar, El Cid Familiaran, Elmer Sy and Catalino Alisbo, who is “graduating,” have been very democratic in their relationship with one another.

As to the 2013 elections, she said “Definitely, we are trying to make the pieces fit. But under the circumstances, I personally believe this is a situation where many questions will be left unanswered, since not all pieces will fit together to the satisfaction of all of them (referring to Baribar, Familiaran, Sy and herself).”

Verdeflor said that although they all belong to the Liberal Party, their decision will be finalized on September 20.

After that, they will respect whatever is the individual stand of each, she said.

On the possible choice of Monico Puentevella as mayoralty candidate and of businessman Vladimir Gonzalez as his running mate, Verdeflor said the candidate for mayor will be the one to choose his vice mayor but this will go through the process of consultation with partymates, she said.

Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson said they will declare their complete line-up once they have the guidelines on the coalition of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, the Nationalista Party and Liberal Party.

Sayson said the slot in the candidate for vice mayor of Grupo Progreso is still open and they are considering several bets and will make the announcement in due time.

He said there are graduating councilors of their party who are probable candidates for vice mayor.

Sayson denied having met with former Vice Mayor Renecito Novero regarding the position of vice mayor, and said that the last they met was during the birthday of the Mayor in July. He said he has not attended any meeting with Novero.

Councilor Dindo Ramos, one of the graduating councilors of Grupo Progreso, said they are presenting themselves for the position of vice mayor but are not very insistent on it.

He said it would be favorable if their group has many choices, especially coming from their party.

Ramos said he has all the factors for a candidate in his favor since he has his bailiwick, his family, and he is equipped with the experience and competence for it.

But if he is not chosen, he can return to private practice as a lawyer, and has many other options available, he said.

Ramos said “If the group thinks we can help strengthen the party, we are willing to contribute our services.”

But if the group will invite others outside of the party, they only ask that due process is observed and their sentiments heard, he said.

Ramos said they are supportive of Leonardia and Sayson. “But we cannot be forced to support candidates we do not feel like supporting,” he said.

If there is no coalition between their party and the Liberal Party, they will still present a complete slate and a strong line-up, Ramos said. However, it will be much better if they are united, he said.

“We are trying to prepare and equip ourselves and will field good materials. We are also ready against any of our political opponents,” Ramos added.*CGS

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