New leader, poll violence, war vs insurgency in NegOcc
CITY -- The year 2019 saw a change in political leadership, heightened campaign for various causes, and new directions in the Province of Negros Occidental.
The past 12 months tested the Negrenses in many ways amid the takeover of new Capitol officials, violence in the May elections, challenges faced by the sugar industry, threat to the province’s multi-billion hog industry, and the campaign against insurgency.
As the year ends, these are the major events that transpired in Negros Occidental in 2019. Leadership change After serving as governor for three terms in the past nine years, Alfredo Marañon Jr. stepped down on June 30, and relinquished the top Capitol post to his deputy, Eugenio Jose “Bong” Lacson, who was elected the 35th governor in a landslide victory.
Marañon’s completion of his term as governor signaled his apparent retirement from a career in government service and politics, spanning more than five decades.
Lacson, who has served as vice governor for two
terms, was succeeded by former fourth district congressman Jeffrey Ferrer.
The new governor has adopted the battle cry “Abanse Negrense”, which stands for Agriculture and Food Security; Building of Infrastructure, Roads and Other Structures; Advancement of Economic, Trade, Investment and Employment Opportunities; Nurturing of Public Health by creating responsive hospital and other social services; Sustainable Environmental Management and Tourism Development; Education, Culture, Sports and ICT; and the Negrense brand of Good Governance and Human Development.
Violence-marred polls The election-related killings in Moises Padilla prompted no less than President Rodrigo Duterte to visit the central Negros town days before the May 13 elections to order a stop to violence amid the battle for the mayoral post between then mayor Magdaleno Peña and niece, vice mayor Ella Garcia-Yulo.
On May 6, or a week before the polls, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) officially placed Moises Padilla under its control, and two days later, the President arrived to preside over a security meeting with police and military officials.