Read the body language.

That is what Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. told reporters yesterday when asked if La Carlota Mayor Juliet Marie Ferrer will be his running mate in the 2013 polls.

The governor and Ferrer joined the distribution of P18.8 million worth of farm equipment and postharvest facilities to farmers’ groups at the Negros Occidental Multi-Purpose Activity Center in Bacolod City yesterday.

Ferrer refused to confirm her bid for the vice governorship, saying there are a few more days until the filing of the Certificates of Candidacy (CoC) set by the Commission on Elections from October 1 to 5.

But in her speech at the NOMPAC, Ferrer told the farmers from various parts of Negros Occidental “We will see more of each other”, which was interpreted by those present to mean she is hitting the campaign trail with the governor.

When interviewed, Ferrer said she was with the governor because farmers from her city were also beneficiaries of the farm assistance.

Asked if a meeting took place between her husband Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer (Neg. Occ., 4th District) and Ambassador Eduardo Cojuangco, who is supporting the gubernatorial bid of Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez Jr. and the vice gubernatorial run of former San Carlos City Mayor Eugenio Jose Lacson under the Nationalist People’s Coalition, Ferrer said a statement will be made to the press at the proper time.

Her husband is a member of the NPC, while she is with the Lakas CMD.

A DAILY STAR source said the Marañon-Ferrer tandem under the United Negros Alliance ticket is a go, and that a joint filing of COCs is likely to take place by midweek.

Marañon is set to meet with UNA bets over lunch today where their provincewide line-up and schedules for filing COCs will be tackled, the source said.

Marañon had earlier said that the UNA candidates will be for congressional, provincial, town and city posts.

Board Member Nehemias de la Cruz may run for congressman of the first district, while Sagay Mayor Rafael Leo Cueva is going for the second congressional seat, a source said.

The governor, however, remained tightlipped about his line-up.

Meanwhile, Alvarez said his team will file their COCs at the provincial COMELEC office in Bacolod City on Monday.*CPG

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