Tight race seen in elections for Negros ABC president

BACOLOD CITY , Philippines   â€“ Tension is expected to fill tomorrow’s election for the president of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) provincial federation in Negros Occidental, as a neck-and-neck contest is seen between the two ruling parties.

Reports said the United Negros Alliance (UNA) chaired by incumbent Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. and the Love Negros, led by former vice governor Genaro Alvarez, have respective candidates for the top post.

Alvarez, who challenged the re-election bid of Marañon in the May elections, was the official candidate of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) headed by Eduardo Cojuangco Jr.

The president of the ABC provincial federation will sit in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan as board member.

Last week, barangay captain Annabelle Bermudo, president of the La Carlota ABC, was reportedly groomed to be UNA’s bet.

Bermudo announced over the weekend that she would no longer run for the position. She said barangay captain Eduardo Javier of Cadiz City would run for president, and she for vice president.

Challenging Javier as UNA’s bet to the ABC top post is barangay captain Mark Cui of San Carlos ABC.

Cui, however, did not confirm this report.

Vice Gov. Eugenio Lacson, Alvarez’s running-mate under Love Negros, said they are still assessing the situation.

Lacson said although Love Negros and UNA are divided in the elections, they are united in public service.

Both parties reportedly claimed they have the numbers to win the ABC top post.

There are 31 ABC presidents from the province’s 19 towns and 12 cities, excluding Bacolod.