Ferrer-Lacson tandem to be presented to party leaders

AN ALTERNATIVE team-up of two young mayors eyed to run for the top two posts in the province in the 2013 elections will be presented to former ambassador Eduardo Danding Cojuangco.

The tandem of Mayors Juliet Marie Ferrer of La Carlota City and David Albert Lacson of EB Magalona is deemed to end the impasse within the United Negros Alliance (UNA) brought about by Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. and Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez’ interest for the gubernatorial post.

Ferrer is the wife of Congressman Jeffrey Ferrer (4th District) and daughter of renowned Philippine cinema and entertainment personality Kitchie Benedicto, who is the daughter of the late sugar czar Roberto S. Benedicto.

Lacson, who is president of the Association of Chief Executives (ACE) of Negros Occidental, said it is up to the Negros congressmen to present the alternative tandem to Cojuangco.

The alternative tandem of Ferrer and Lacson was agreed during a meeting of 18 mayors on Thursday. They discussed the impasse within UNA and came up with a solution to preserve the unity within the party.

Lacson said they hope the alternative tandem is acceptable to their top leaders.

He admitted that if their proposal is not acceptable to Cojuangco, then a face-off between Marañon and Alvarez in 2013 will be inevitable.

Ferrer and Lacson said they are accepting the endorsement if it will preserve party unity.

Also present at the consensus meeting aside from the mayors were Negros Congressmen Alfredo Benitez (3rd District), Ferrer (4th District) and Alejandro Mirasol (5th District).

When asked if they support the tandem, Ferrer in a text message said he is; Benitez was noncommittal as he texted “secret”; while Mirasol did not reply.

On the other hand, Representative Thirdy Marañon (2nd District), son of Governor Marañon, said the proposed tandem has his 101 percent support.