Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer appeared to be sending mixed signals on the Love Negros-United Negros Alliance (UNegA) stand on areas where no local coalitions had been reached.
Lacson and Ferrer on Thursday, October 1, admitted that their unity ticket in some parts of Negros Occidental, especially in the 5th District, failed to get candidates to agree to local coalitions.
“So we will allow them to go on with their desire to run for their respective position with the promise that whoever comes out the winner will be respected and we will continue to work with them,” Lacson said.
Most likely, although it is not yet final, he and Ferrer will stay neutral in areas where there is a political battle, he said.
But Ferrer, UNegA president, said his group will support candidates they had issued certificates of nominations to in areas where no coalitions had been reached.
UNegA will also support La Carlota Mayor Rex Jalandoon if he is challenged by Councilor Demi John Honrado for the mayorship, Ferrer said.
Lacson reiterated that he will support the presidential candidate of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, as one of its members.
Ferrer said he will support a presidential bet that will win and help Negros.
Lacson said if reelected they are hoping that the situation in their second term will be different from that of the first term, but if COVID-19 is still around then they will continue to address the challenges caused by it.
“We will continue to assist our barangay captains all over the province. All barangays will continue to receive financial assistance from the province, all accredited and deserving farmers associations will continue to get farm equipment, our scholarship program will only increase in numbers,” he said.
Lacson also assured that he will continue to go around the province despite the pandemic to deliver the services that the provincial government can offer Negrenses.
Lacson said they expect the Philippine Nation Police and the Army to stay neutral in the 2022 polls in Negros Occidental as they have done in the past.*