Hagad said the three, whose names he did not disclose are from the civil society, a non-government organization and the media.

However, the LP will not field candidates for Mayor, Vice Mayor and Congressman because they are giving their members the choice of what local party’s they will join, he said.

The LP yesterday named former Councilors Ana Marie Palermo and Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, Edwin Balajadia of the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement-Negros, party city district chair Frank Carbon and Hagad as part of their line up for councilors.

It also included incumbent Bacolod councilors El Cid Famillaran, Archie Baribar, Sonya Verdeflor and Elmer Sy, who had earlier announced that they may run as independent candidates after their names were not listed for nomination and acceptance to the LP national leadership.

Baribar said they welcome the inclusion of their names as official candidates for councilors of LP but he, Verdeflor, Famillaran and Sy will not join their other colleagues, who are reportedly joining the group of former Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella and businessman Vladimir Gonzales, who are running mayor and vice mayor, respectively.

Baribar was initially invited by Puentevella to run for re-election under his group but he declined.

The four incumbent councilors were also invited by Bacolod Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, who is running against Puentevella, to join his group and gave them until Friday to decide.

Famillaran said the four of them will meet before Friday so they could decide whether they will join the group of Sayson or not.

Hagad stressed that even if their councilor bets will run in different local coalitions, in the end they will be working together and will cooperate with whoever the mayor will be.*APN

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