Lawmaker: Vice guv is running for gubernatorial post

A LAWMAKER said on Sunday that Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez talked to him and shared a “scenario” where he is running for governor in the 2013 elections.

"He passed by my house and gave me the scenario that he is running for governor. I even called up Governor Alfredo Marañon and I asked them to resolve the matter between the two of them," Representative Alejandro Mirasol (Fifth district, Negros Occidental) said.

The meeting between Mirasol and Alvarez happened two weeks ago.

Mirasol’s statement bolstered talks of a possible battle between United Negros Alliance (UNA) and Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) party mates Marañon and Alvarez for the highest position in the province in next year’s elections.

"There is still an ongoing negotiation among top officials of UNA and NPC," Mirasol said.

He said that he also told Alvarez and Marañon that the possible battle between them is giving the 31 town and city mayors in the province a problem.

Mirasol said he expected the equity of the incumbent to be respected and followed by the party in deciding the conflict among its members.

A Sun.Star Bacolod source divulged that Marañon is set to meet with former Ambassador Eduardo Cojuangco, the acknowledged kingmaker in Negros, within this week in Metro Manila for a final negotiation.

The source also divulged to Sun.Star that first district Representative Jules Ledesma endorsed Alvarez to the UNA leadership as the party's standard bearer in the province in the 2013 elections.

Alvarez and Kabankalan Mayor Isidro Zayco previously confirmed their dinner meeting with Cojuangco at his residence in Balbina, Pontevedra, during his recent visit in the province.

After that meeting, Alvarez also confirmed having another meeting with Cojuangco along with Ledesma.

However, Marañon, in the presence of 18 mayors who support him, has already declared that he is seeking reelection in 2013. He said that the overwhelming support of the mayors made him decide early and ahead of the formal announcement of UNA of its official candidates in the province for 2013.

Marañon is the chairman of UNA and NPC in the province, while Alvarez is the vice chairman.

Cojuangco is the founder and chairman emeritus of UNA and is also the national chair of NPC.

"If negotiations between the two top leaders of UNA fail, expect that there will be a grand showdown between the politicos in several towns and cities in the province," the source said.

"Some incumbent congressmen can also expect opponents, depending on who they are going to support between Marañon and Alvarez. That's why incumbent officials should be very careful on their political leanings now," the source added.

He also said that some congressmen held meetings with their mayors in their respective districts for consultation and presentation of the possible scenario if Marañon and Alvarez cannot settle the issue between them.

Marañon and Alvarez have been denying that there is a rift between them. Both decline to comment when asked about their possible showdown in 2013.