I’ll be Bong’s sidekick: Albee

BY CARLA P. GOMEZ
Monday, September 24, 2018

Love Negros yesterday officially announced its fielding of Vice Gov. Eugenio “Bong” Lacson as its candidate for governor of Negros Occidental in 2019, and its acceptance of a merger with the United Negros Alliance.

Lacson and Rep. Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez made the announcement at a press conference yesterday afternoon shortly after a Love Negros meeting in Bacolod City attended by its eight mayors and three would-be mayors.

Rep. Alfredo Benitez (7th from left) proclaims the Love-Negros candidates for the 2019 elections (l-r) Gerry Rojas for Murcia mayor, Talisay City Mayor Neil Lizares, Hinigaran Mayor Nadie Arceo, EB Magalona Mayor Marvin Malacon, Victorias City Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca, Silay City Mayor Mark Golez, Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson for governor, Board Member Manuel Frederick Ko, Murcia Mayor Andrew Montelibano for board member, San Carlos City Mayor Gerardo Valmayor for congressman and Renato Gustilo for San Carlos mayor. *Gilbert P. Bayoran photo

The Love Negros 2019 candidates for congressmen, provincial board members and mayors were also announced at the press conference.

Lacson said the Love Negros bets for Congress are San Carlos Mayor Gerardo Valmayor Jr. – first district, Dr. Francisco Benitez – third district, Agustin Ernesto Bascon – fifth district, and Genaro “Lim-ao” Alvarez – sixth district.

The vice governor said, they do not have congressional candidates for the second and fourth districts.

Lacson said the Love Negros candidates for mayor in the first district are Renato Gustilo for San Carlos City, Marilyn Era – Calatrava, Melecio Yap – Escalante City; third district – Francis Palanca – Victorias City, Marvin Malacon – EB Magalona, Mark Golez – Silay City, Neil Lizares – Talisay City and Victor Gerardo Rojas – Murcia;

Fourth district – Miguel Peña – Pulupandan and Enrique Miravalles – Valladolid; fifth district – Nadie Arceo – Hinigaran and Carminia Bascon – Himamaylan City; sixth district – Pedro Zayco – Kabankalan, Ilog – an Alvarez, John Rey Tabujara – Cauayan, and Maria Gina Montilla Lizares – Sipalay City.

Lacson said they presume that Moises Padilla Mayor Magdaleno Peña will run for re-election, as of the moment.

The Love Negros candidates for board members are Manuel Frederick Ko and Murcia Mayor Andrew Montelibano, Lacson said.

He announced the names of their board member candidates for the first district at the press conference but later asked that they be withheld as they were not final.

As for the fifth and sixth district, they have not been officially notified yet but Love Negros will have candidates, Lacson said.

They have no board member candidates for the second and fourth districts, he added.

There are areas that could be declared free zones after the merger with UNegA, he said.

Love Negros yesterday also officially agreed to accept a merger with UNegA, Benitez said, adding that a joint announcement will be made closer to the filing of Certificates of Candidacy next month.

With the merger, he said “We will do away with politics, which is most often the reason why the province does not develop properly”.

Benitez suggested that the unity ticket be called “Love Negros First”, but this will have to be discussed with UNegA.

Benitez, who gave way to Lacson for the governorship, said he will help him in whatever capacity he can.

“For the sake of the province this arrangement is much better. We have the vice governor who is really a hands on person and can devote most of his time here in the province,” Benitez said.

Benitez, who also maintained that he is not running for senator, said he can be of better help to Negros Occidental “by just being the sidekick of Gov. Lacson and helping the province develop economically”.

“Congressman Benitez will be like a magnate for investments in Negros Occidental,” Lacson said. He also cited the “One Visayas” composed of Western, Eastern and Central Visayas recently organized by Benitez to boost economic growth in the Visayas.

“We need livelihoods, we need jobs and this can only happen if there are investors coming into the province and this is one the reasons we launched One Visayas…so it’s a win-win arrangement,” Benitez said.

The merger talks centered on the top two posts of the province, wherein it was agreed that the gubernatorial bet would come from Love Negros and the vice gubernatorial bet from UNegA, Benitez said.

They have not discussed other posts yet, the merger as of now is only for the governor and vice governor, the congressman said.

“Maybe we will just have a best effort on other positions,” Benitez said.

SUPPORT

Benitez said Love Negros bets can be assured that they will be supported by the party.

As to talk that some mayors preferred Benitez for governor over Lacson because they cannot expect much financial support from him, the vice governor said “That is not the priority of our candidates...they are running, for the incumbent, because they feel that they have done well. They are running on the strength of their performance and not because of the funding they will receive for 2019. I want to disabuse that notion.”

Asked if he would dabble in Bacolod politics, Benitez said he would probably focus more on the third district where he will give 101 percent to making sure the next congressman there will be his brother, Dr. Franciso Benitez.

Hopefully his brother’s expertise in education will bring a little more than what he has already delivered for the district, the congressman said.

Asked if he is now the kingmaker of Negros, Benitez said their decisions are based on a consensus building process. We achieve democracy and development through this kind process, Benitez said.

ONE VISAYAS

On “One Visayas”, Benitez said it is the first attempt to unite Western Central and Eastern Visayas.

There was a unanimous agreement to share resources, talent, skills for economic development, he said.

“It was very well received,” he added.

“It could also be in preparation for federalism to make things happen,” he added.*