The possibility of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino’s supporting the reelection bid of Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson remains, Jesus Villanueva Hinlo, PDP deputy secretary general for Visayas and Negros Occidental Council president, said on Thursday, April 25.
He said former Victorias mayor Francis Frederick “Wantan” Palanca has not accepted their offer to run as the PDP gubernatorial bet in 2025 yet.
“Wantan has not even accepted it yet because it’s a big decision for him…by the end of the day it might turn out that we may ally ourselves with Bong Lacson”, Hinlo said, stressing that they are still in the consultation stage.
Technically they still do not have a candidate, it might turn out that they will still support Lacson, Hinlo said.
The resignation of the Victorias City vice mayor and nine councilors from the PDP on Tuesday, April 23, following his announcement that the party may field Palanca as its candidate for governor “was uncalled for”, Hinlo said.
“They could have just talked to me ahead, everything is still premature,” he said, since Palanca has not accepted the invitation to run for governor yet.
Hinlo said he did not expect of all places that the Victorias officials would react that way.
“When they knew that Wantan is being considered they should have rallied behind him,” he said.
If Palanca decides to run for governor, he believes that the majority of the people of Victorias will support him, Hinlo added.
Cadiz Mayor Salvador Escalante, United Negros Alliance secretary general, said UNegA will continue to support Lacson’s reelection bid as part of its coalition with Love Negros.
If UNegA members who are also part of PDP opt to support Lacson against a PDP candidate for governor, Hinlo said he will have to clarify the matter with his party’s national leaders.
Hinlo said he is open to talks with the PDP members who are part of UNegA.
“I am open talks with them, I don’t know all of them…they can seek me out, I will always listen to them,” Hinlo said.
Former president Rodrigo Duterte is the chairman of PDP.
Hinlo said it is important for PDP to win posts in the midterm polls in 2025 in preparation for the presidential race in 2028.*