Local officials join LP today

MORE incumbent and former local officials of Bacolod City are set to swear in with the Liberal Party (LP) today, Friday, before LP provincial chair Representative Albee Benitez (3rd district, Negros Occidental).

Frank Carbon, Bacolod City LP chairman, said the oath-taking will be held at the Bacolod Pavilion Hotel.

Set to formally take oath before Benitez are incumbent Bacolod City Councilors Archie Baribar, Sonia Verdeflor, Catalino Alisbo and Elmer Sy and former councilors Jocelle Batapa Segue and Ana Marie Palermo.

Games and Amusement Board chairman Juan Ramon Guanzon will also take oath before Benitez, Carbon said.

Carbon earlier revealed that LP is planning to field candidates for councilors only under other major local political parties in the city.

Meanwhile, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said the envisioned administration coalition to be led by the ruling party will declare free zones in certain provinces, districts, cities, and towns in next year's election.

Abad, a leader of the ruling party, said conflict at the local level is inevitable among members of the LP and its prospective coalition partners, the Nacionalista Party and the Nationalist People's Coalition.

He said they will have an arbitration committee to resolve disputes but, in cases where conflicts cannot be resolved, they will be forced to declare free zones. (TDE)