Vice guv foresees victory

VICE Governor Genaro Alvarez foresees a lead of more than 150,000 votes over his impending opponent Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. in the 2013 elections for the top post in Negros Occidental.

Alvarez said that with the support of all the mayors in the province’s sixth district, which is considered as his political turf, he will have an edge of about 100,000 over his opponent in the coming election.

He enjoyed the same edge over his opponent, former La Castellana mayor Enrico Elumba, during the vice-governorship race in 2010.

In the first district, Alvarez foresees to enjoy a lead of about 70,000 votes over Marañon, considering that he enjoys the support of Representative Jules Ledesma and majority of the mayors in the district.

Those who are believed to be supporting Alvarez in the first district include San Carlos City Mayor Gerardo Valmayor, Calatrava Mayor Araceli Somosa and Escalante Mayor Melecio Yap.

When Marañon and Alvarez ran in tandem under the United Negros Alliance in 2010, they jointly garnered more than 500,000 all over the province.

Former governor Rafael Coscolluela who lost to Marañon garnered about 350,000 votes, while Coscolluela’s running mate Elumba garnered about 100,000 votes.

Alvarez said he talked to Coscolluella and that the former governor has given his support for his candidacy.

Alvarez added that the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) will field candidates all over the province: from governor, vice governor, members of the provincial board from first to the sixth district and mayors in all towns and cities.

The vice governor said he will pursue his plans to run for governor despite the common candidate decided by about 20 mayors that will be presented to Ambassador Eduardo Cojuangco by the congressmen.