Former Bacolod Rep. John Orola has registered to vote in Salvador Benedicto town fuelling speculation again that he plans to run for governor of Negros Occidental in 2022 against Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson.
The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi is holding “sort of a convention” in Negros Occidental, which is tentatively set on September 4, Orola said on Wednesday, August 25.
The gathering will be a get-together of potential candidates in Negros Occidental and Bacolod, said Orola, who said he is a member of PDP Laban.
He may decide what his political plans will be after the PDP-Laban convention, he said.
Asked if he would run for governor if fielded by PDP-Laban, Orola said it will depend on the outcome of the convention.
Lacson, when asked for his reaction, said “you can’t choose your opponent”.
Contrary to what Orola told the media earlier, he actually changed residency to Salvador Benedicto, Lacson said.
On talks that Orola will be given P200 million in funding from Vallacar Transit Inc. matriarch Olivia Yanson to run for governor, Lacson said “good for him”.
“That is misinformation, that is wrong,” Orola said.
Orola said while Yanson is a good friend, he has never consulted her for any of his political plans.
“I don’t want to involve the Yanson group, if ever I go into this it will be my own political fight,” Orola said.*