Marañon, Alvarez may clash for governorship
ALLIES BREAKING UP IN 2013?
BACOLOD CITY — Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. and Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez Jr., both of the United Negros Alliance (UNA), may clash for the gubernatorial post in the 2013 elections.
This picture of a breakup between two allies came after Marañon last July 9 declared to the media his intention to seek reelection, after meeting with majority of the province’s 31 mayors who told him they still want him to run for governor next year.
“I have decided to seek reelection because the ‘pulse at the grassroots’ says the people wanted me to run for governor again,” Marañon said.
Alvarez, who was rumored to be also aiming for the province’s top post, seemed not enthusiastic about Marañon’s announcement, saying only it was “good” but that “it’s far yet.” He said he will just wait for the decision of UNA, and he will abide by it.
The vice governor said the decision on who will run for governor under UNA will depend on the decision of the party, not just the declaration of a politician. “It’s easy for one to declare his plans to run but in the end, it will be the decision of the party if they are going to field you,” he said.
Alvarez said that, based on the process observed in UNA, it is not the mayors but the con- gressmen who decide the slate from the governor, vice governor, mayors, and down to the councilors, in consultation with former Ambassador Danding Cojuangco Jr, founder of both UNA and the Nationalist People’s Coalition-Negros Occidental.
Marañon is the chairman of UNA and of the NPC-Negros Occidental, whileAlvarez is the vice chairman of both parties.
Cojuangco allegedly wanted to support Alvarez for governor in the 2013 polls, but E. B. Magalona town Mayor David Albert Lacson, president of the Association of Chief Executives (Mayors) of Negros Occidental, said they are supporting Marañon’s plan to run for governor again, as well as the Marañon-Alvarez tandem.
Lacson said UNA is “very solid,” and their decision to support Marañon is according to the rules of their party, which is to follow the “equity of the incumbent.” Since Marañon has decided now to seek reelection, the mayors will support him being the incumbent governor.
For months now, Marañon had been mum on his 2013 plans, amid earlier rumors that majority of the mayors were disgruntled of his administration and that they were withdrawing their support from him.
The governor said he does not hold grudges against anyone, and if there are mayors who were disgruntled with him, he will try to pacify them. “I’ll try to fix it. Everybody is welcome. There’s no problem that can’t be solved,” he said, adding that he is willing to partner with Alvarez again in 2013.
Seventeen of the 18 mayors went to Marañon’s office Monday, which he said was not planned by him. They were: (1st district)— Evello Valencia Jr. of Toboso and Laurence Marxlen Dela Cruz of Don Salvador Benedicto; (2nd District)—Leo Rafael Cueva of Sagay City, Patrick Escalante of Cadiz City and Lourdes Escalante of Manapla; (3rd District)—Jose Montelibano of Silay City, Eric Saratan of Talisay City, Andrew Montelibano of Murcia and Lacson of E.B. Magalona; (4th District)—Ramon Torres of Bago City, Mario Magno of San Enrique, Juliet Ferrer of La Carlota City and Jose Ma. Alonso of Pontevedra; and (5th District)—Hermilo Aguilar of Hinigaran, Emmanuel Aranda of Binalbagan, Francis Malabor of Isabela and Francisco Nazareno of Moises Padilla.
Marañon counted Mayor Alberto Nicor of La Castellana town as 18th in the list. Nicor was in his town celebrating his birthday last Monday.