on Thursday, August 10, 2017
BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN

The United Negros Alliance (UNegA) is also gearing up for the 2019 elections, and its members are scheduled to have meeting this month.

Senior Board Member Salvador Escalante Jr said yesterday that UNegA may also field candidates for the gubernatorial and vice gubernatorial positions, as Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. is now on his last term.

We are not running out of candidates, Escalante, who is also on his last term as board member, said.

Board Member David Albert Lacson, also a member of UNegA, had said earlier that former Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer may run for governor in the 2019 elections.

Anything is possible. We have so many potential leaders, Escalante, who is the UNegA secretary general, said.

Vice-Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said his own option to run for governor remains, although the five mayors of the 3rd congressional district are pushing Benitez to run for governor of Negros Occidental.

Lacson defeated Ferrer for the vice-gubernatorial position during the 2016 elections.

Members of the Love-Negros, including Lacson, recently met with Rep. Alfredo Benitez.

Lacson said that Benitez is more likely to run for senator.

During the gathering of UNegA members, Escalante said they may also discuss issues such as the abolition of NIR, barangay and 2019 elections.

Earlier, Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr., who heads the UNegA, said he would support Benitez in his bid, either for the senate, or for the governorship in 2019.

But Marañon did not say whom he would support for governor if Benitez opts to run for senator.

Should Lacson run for governor, there is talk that his likely running mate will be Rep. Mercedes Alvarez, who is on her third and last term as congresswoman of the 6th district of Negros Occidental.

The name of Escalante is also being floated for the vice gubernatorial position.* GPB