INC endorses bets in Negros Occ, Leyte

CEBU, Philippines - The bloc-voting Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) has announced its endorsements for candidates in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental and Leyte provinces.

In Negros Occidental, the 60,000-strong INC has endorsed re-electionist Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr., and his runningmate, Provincial Board Member Melvin Ibañez, and many others in their slate under the United Negros Alliance.

INC District Minister Guillermo “Ka Jun” Cabrera said the church was also endorsing four congressional candidates of UNA: Re-electionists Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (3rd district), Jeffrey Ferrer (4th dist.) and Alejandro Mirasol (5th dist), and Sagay City Mayor Leo Rafael Cueva.

Other INC-endorsed bets were UNA mayoral candidates: Re-electionist Mayors Patrick Escalante of Cadiz City, Lourdes Escalante of Manapla town, Jose Montelibano of Silay City, Juliet Ferrer of La Carlota City, and David Albert Lacson of E. B. Magalona town.

In Bacolod City, the INC endorsed Mayor Evelio Leonardia’s congressional bid for the city’s lone district, together with Nationalist People’s Coalition-Grupo Progreso partymates Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, for city mayor, and Greg Gasataya for vice mayor.

In Leyte province, the INC last Friday aired its endorsement of LP’s Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez for the 4th district, Richard Gomez for Ormoc City mayor and Leo Carmelo “Toto Jr.” Locsin for vice mayor, as well as Lucy’s younger brother Matthew Torres for mayor of Kananga town.

INC’s minister for western Leyte, Felipe Jayme, said the church has around 8,000 voters in Ormoc and about 10,000 others spread in six towns of the 4th district.

In Leyte’s 3rd district, re-electionist Rep. Andy Salvacion got the INC endorsement, along with PB Member bet, Gov. Mimiette Bagulaya.  (FREEMAN)