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Bacolod City, Philippines Monday, September 24, 2012
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17 mayors,
4 solons join Lim-ao

NEW CANDIDATES TAKE OATH
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Seventeen out of 31 mayors of Negros Occidental, and four congressmen of the province, were present at the official endorsement by the Nationalist People’s Coalition and Liberal Party of the gubernatorial bid of Genaro “Lim-ao” Alvarez Jr. and his runningmate Eugenio Jose Lacson at L’Fisher Hotel in Bacolod City Saturday.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia was the 18th mayor present but residents of Bacolod City, which is a highly urbanized city, do not vote for the governor and vice governor.

The Negros Occidental congressmen present were Julio Ledesma IV – first district, Alfredo Abelaro Benitez – third district, Alejandro Mirasol – fifth district and Mercedes Alvarez – sixth district.

Mirasol, a Liberal Party member who has been associated with the camp of Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr., who is running against Alvarez, said he was honoring the LP-NPC partnership.

However, there was talk that the NPC will field Board Member Emilio Yulo III against Mirasol in the race for the fifth congressional seat.

Benitez, LP Negros Occidental chairman, said the LP will support Mirasol if Yulo runs.

Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer (Neg. Occ., 4th District), who was not present at the affair because his father-in-law died, said he will explain his position on his return to Negros.

Ferrer has been associated with the Marañon camp but Tarlac Rep. Henry Cojuangco said the solon is an NPC member and they expect him to be committed to the party.

Of the 17 mayors, two – Talisay’s Eric Saratan and Pontevedra’s Jose Maria Alonso, had earlier been associated with the camp of Marañon.

The 15 other mayors at the NPC affair were Gerardo Valmayor Jr. of San Carlos, Melecio Yap Jr. of Escalante, Araceli Somosa of Calatrava, Andrew Montelibano of Murcia, Ramon Torres of Bago City, Magdaleno Peña of Pulupandan, Rommel Yogore of Valladolid, Agustin Ernesto Bascon of Himamaylan City, Francis Malabor of Isabela, Isidro Zayco of Kabankalan, Oscar Montilla Jr. of Sipalay City, Jechonias Manzano of Candoni, John Rey Tabujara of Cauayan, Ma. Teresa Bilbao of Hinobaan and John Paul Alvarez of Ilog.

The NPC is fielding Carlo Gamban for mayor of Silay City against incumbent Jose Montelibano of the LP. Benitez said Silay City would be a free zone for the NP-LP partnership, with the LP supporting its own.

Former Board Member Enrique Montilla said he is running for mayor of Isabela with incumbent mayor Francis Malabor as his vice mayor.

Mayor Peña said his son, Miguel, will run as mayor of Pulupandan. Asked if he is running for another post, Mayor Peña said he probably will just act as a consultant for Vice Gov. Alvarez, who is his uncle.

Other possible NPC mayoral candidates are Caroll Guanco of Hinigaran, Jilson Tubillara with Pedro Bedayo as vice mayor for San Enrique, Maling de la Cruz for Toboso, Edilberto Vocal for Manapla, Dr. Enrico Elumba with Chad Feria as vice mayor for La Castellana, Ella Garcia Yulo for Moises Padilla, Leopoldo Gepes for Binalbagan and Joe Max Ortiz for Don Salvador Benedicto.

They were at the NPC affair Saturday but no official confirmation of their bids was made.

Also present at the affair was Carapali Lualhati, Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade national commander, who said he has been helping the Liberal Party through Benitez.

On the statement of Ambassador Eduardo Cojuangco that his support for Alvarez was triggered by Benitez’s report that the congressmen and mayors of Negros Occidental would no longer support Marañon, the congressman said “I was probably the one who broke the ice with Ambassador Cojuangco but definitely, I was not the only one talking about that. In fact, if you read it in newspapers, the report was verified with other party members.”

Benitez also said he has no ambition to become kingmaker in Negros Occidental.*CPG

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