Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante, secretary-general of the United Negros Alliance (UNegA), would not confirm reports that two more Negros Occidental mayors are set to join the party.
Escalante on Tuesday, August 25, said he also has no information on whether the two mayors are joining the National Unity Party (NUP), of which Rep. Alfredo Marañon III (Neg. Occ.,2nd District) is a member.
Marañon of UNegA and Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) of Love Negros are seen as likely candidates for governor in 2028.
Escalante noted that 14 to 15 of the 31 mayors in Negros Occidental are currently members of UNegA. A few new mayors have yet to affiliate with any local political group, while the remaining mayors belong to Love Negros.
If the barangay elections push through, UNegA may hold a general assembly to address internal party concerns, Escalante said.
Meanwhile, two district representatives declined to name whom they will support for governor in 2028, stressing that they are currently prioritizing their legislative work.
Rep. Emilio “Dino” Yulo (Neg. Occ., 5th District) noted that he ran as an independent candidate and belongs to neither Love Negros nor UNegA.
“My district survived. there is no compulsion for me to join any of the local provincial parties,” Yulo said.
Yulo said he hopes Love Negros and UNegA will reach a consensus. “We will honor whatever is the agreement between the parties.”
Rep. Julio Ledesma IV (Neg. Occ., 1st District) said, “I was told when I filed my candidacy in October 2024 that there was a gentleman’s agreement between Love Negros and UNegA. Anyone who knows me knows that I’ve been consistent.”
However, Ledesma pointed out that the next elections are still a year and a half away. “So why don’t we work at what we were elected to do?” he said.*
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