Love-Negros is pushing for a Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. – Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson tandem in the 2016 elections, under the proposed merger of two local political parties.

This was revealed yesterday by Lacson, who stressed that the “merger will tell us that I am interested in running for vice governor”.

“That is our proposal right now. We would like to stick to that until such time that the governor (Marañon) makes his decision (on the proposed merger”, Lacson, a Love Negros member, said.

Marañon had earlier hinted that Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer, who is now on his third term as congressman of the 4th district of Negros Occidental, will be his running mate, as vice governor, in the next year's election.

Ferrer, a member of the United Negros Alliance (UNA), had said earlier that the proposed merger is difficult, as they have their own political group, and will field candidates in the 2016 elections.

He said the merger, if there is one, should be from the bottom to the top, and “not just on the top (level).”

While the call for a merger of two political parties should be top from the bottom is the most ideal, Lacson said, that in reality it is difficult to implement.

When UNA was once united, he recalled that there were still battle at the local level.

But Lacson said the priority of Love-Negros is still a merger. While the governor has not officially stated his position, we are still hopeful for that merger, he added.

Lacson said they are hoping that Marañon, who encouraged him to run for congressman in the 1st district of Negros Occidental, will air his stand on the proposed merger by June.

Asked if he is considering to run for a congressional post, Lacson replied “That is precisely why we also ask for a June deadline, because that will give us time on what to do if the merger doesn't push through”.

Love Negros started its series of consultation meetings in the 5th district of Negros Occidental during the weekend in Moises Padilla, that was attended by Rep. Alfredo Benitez, Liberal Party provincial chairman, and Abang Lingkod partylist Rep. Stephen Paduano.

Board Member Allen Gatuslao (LP) said the Love Negros consultation in the 5th district was also attended by supporters of UNA.

While he described Lacson as a “good vice governor”, Gatuslao said he would support Ferrer, should he decide to run for the post.

Asked for his stand on the proposed merger of Love Negros and UNA, Gatuslao said “From what I understand, the merger should be on the terms of Gov. Marañon, and not of the Love-Negros”.

“Primo Len is a party man, so he has to go by the choice of their party”, Lacson said, in reply to the statement of Gatuslao.* GPB

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