Guv: No rift in UNA

NEGROS Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., chairman of the United Negros Alliance (UNA), denied Monday rumors that there is rift among members of the province’s most dominant political party.

UNA is a coalition of different political aggrupations in the province. It was founded by former ambassador Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr.

The rumored rift came out after Marañon himself announced Monday that the scheduled meeting of UNA today, Tuesday, was postponed for a yet to be announced date because some mayors are not available for the slated meeting to discuss UNA’s line-up for the 2013 polls.

"Rift? What rift?” Marañon replied when asked during his meeting with Makati City Mayor Erwin “Junjun” Binay at the Nature's Village Resort Hotel in Talisay City.

Marañon clarified that the postponement of UNA's meeting has nothing to do with the non-arrival of Vice President Jejomar Binay in Bacolod City.

The Vice President was invited to be the guest speaker Monday in the city’s commemoration of the signing of its charter but he was unable to come, as he was asked by President Benigno Aquino III to attend the burial of Saudi Prince Prince Naif bin Abdul Aziz.

Binay is the national chair of the United Nationalist Alliance, incidentally also known as UNA, an alliance of several national political parties such as Binay’s own Partido Demokratikong Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) and former President Joseph Estrada’s Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP).

Although Marañon has not yet confirmed that he is seeking reelection, the prevailing belief among Negrense voters is that he will.

First district Representative Jules Ledesma is reportedly going to oppose Marañon for governor in the 2013 elections but there has been no declaration to such effect from Ledesma’s camp.

Aside from Ledesma, the names of fourth district Representative Jeffrey Ferrer and Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez are also rumored to be possible candidates for governor, if Marañon is not going to seek reelection.