Marañon to challenge Roxas non-backers

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – The United Negros Alliance party of Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. will field candidates against those who will not support the presidential bid of former secretary Mar Roxas in the 2016 elections.

For Roxas’ supporters, there will be negotiation (with opposition Love Negros) so that a common candidate will be fielded, said Marañon, an ally of Roxas of the Liberal Party.

Of the 31 mayors in the province (excluding Bacolod City being a highly urbanized city), 12 incumbents were backing Roxas, thus having the support of the governor.

They were Mayors Isidro Zayco of Kabankalan City, provincial chairman of Nationalist People’s Coalition; Ernesto Estrao of Hinobaan; Oscar Montilla Jr. of Sipalay City; Cicero Borromeo of Candoni; Agustin Bascon of Himamaylan City; Jose Maria Alonso of Pontevedra; Miguel Peña of Pulupandan; Mario Magno of San Enrique; Alfredo Marañon III of Sagay City; Patrick Escalante of Cadiz City; Lourdes Escalante of Manapla; and Richard Jaojoco of Toboso.

Marañon said there were at least 13 mayoralty posts still being “negotiated and arranged” and may be challenged by his party. These were in the cities of San Carlos, Escalante, Silay, Talisay and Victorias, and in the towns of Calatrava, Salvador Benedicto, Murcia, Ilog, Cauayan, Hinigaran, Isabela, and Moises Padilla.

Five local government units — Bago City, La Carlota City, EB Magalona, Valladolid and La Castellana – have graduating mayors except for La Carlota Mayor Juliet Ferrer, who was reportedly seeking for a congressional seat in the fourth district. Mayoralty aspirants in these LGUs have the support of the governor.

For Binalbagan town, Marañon was still mum on who he will support for mayor. Fifth district Representative Alejandro Mirasol earlier said he will be fielding his wife, Mary Ann, against incumbent Mayor Emmanuel Aranda. Both of them were allies of the governor.

Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, who earlier said he was backing Roxas, said “the governor will apply all sorts of strategy to secure mayors’ support for Mar.”