Will Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. of the United Negros Alliance be unopposed in 2016?

Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson admitted yesterday that there are two opinions among Love Negros members – one that they should allow the governor to finish his third term and those who say they need to field a challenger in 2016.

Lacson confirmed that the position not to oppose the governor is being studied.

Marañon, when asked for his reaction to the Love Negros move, said “very good, thank you”.

Kabankalan Mayor Isidro Zayco, Nationalist People's Coalition Negros chairman and a member of Love Negros, had said earlier that he does not see the need to field an opponent against Marañon in 2016.

Lacson said Love Negros will make a decision soon, “We are looking at this month already.”

The vice governor said reelection has always been his priority, but he has yet to decide what post to run for in 2016.

Lacson said he does not know if his choice of Mar Roxas as his candidate for president will affect NPC's support for him in 2016 if the party chooses to support another presidential candidate.

Lacson noted that in the past, NPC had allowed its members to choose whom they will support for president.

He said it is premature to react to the pronouncement of Senator Vic Sotto that the NPC will be cracking the whip on its members to support the presidential candidate it chooses.

He is hoping the NPC will support Roxas for president, Lacson said.

“My decision to support Secretary Mar is based on his competence and integrity,” Lacson said.

Meanwhile, the governor yesterday refused to comment on the no-show of Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3 rd District) at gatherings in support of Roxas.

Benitez, LP Negros Occidental head, has also refused to state whom he is supporting for president.

Marañon said even if a local official chooses not to support Roxas, he believes the people of Negros will.

He noted that Roxas won as number one senator in Negros Occidental and garnered an overwhelming number of votes in the province when he ran for vice president in 2010.

The governor said he believes Negrenses will rally behind one of their own for the top post of the country.

Marañon also said former Gov. Rafael Coscolluela will be an asset to the Roxas campaign.

Coscolluela has been tapped by Roxas to head his private sector-driven parallel campaign.*CPG

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