LP-NPC endorses Alvarez-Lacson

TEAM PNoy campaign manager Senator Franklin Drilon endorsed on Friday Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez for governor and former San Carlos City Mayor Eugenio Lacson for vice governor in Negros Occidental.

Drilon said that in Bacolod City, the Liberal Party-Nationalist People’s Coaliton’s (LP-NPC) official candidates are Mayor Evelio Loenardia for congressman, Vice Mayor Thaddeus Sayson for mayor and Greg Gasataya for vice mayor.

As to the councilors, Drilon declared Bacolod as a free zone.

"I just had a discussion with Congressman Albee Benitez and we decided to declare a free zone for our councilors in Bacolod City," Drilon said.

LP has members in the city who are running for councilor and has also hosted the lightning rally at the Pavillion Hotel for Team PNoy Friday morning when the contingent arrived from Iloilo.

Drilon made the announcement in Victorias City after the lightning rallies held by Team PNoy senatorial candidates at the Convention Center of the Pavillon Hotel, Talisay City Public Plaza, Silay City Public Plaza and Victorias City Public Plaza.

Drilon denied reports that President Benigno Aquino III did not push through with his supposed arrival here to personally campaign for Team PNoy, because of the conflict in the endorsement between Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. and Alvarez.

"We have to respect the coalition. Alvarez is the NPC's bet here so that's the reality in politics," Drilon said.

Representative Albee Benitez (3rd district, Negros Occidental) declared Friday that the crowds at the different venues of the lightning rallies were beyond their expectation.

He said that they were expecting 10,000 people in every venue of the lightning rallies.

Drilon said that he expects that the politicians in the province will cross party lines to support the President's Team PNoy.

He said that their campaign and platform of government is centered on the programs of the President that already made a breakthrough, especially the conditional cash transfer program where six million Filipinos will be covered with the subsidies that will total to P25 billion.

Aside from these, millions of indigent families have also availed of the free PhilHealth coverage nationwide.

"These projects are surely appreciated by the Negrenses so we are positive of their support for Team PNoy," Drilon said.

Leonardia also thanked Drilon saying: "We will try our best to live up to their expectation."

About the dropping off of Senators Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Loren Legarda and Grace Poe by the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) from its ticket, Drilon said that the three have never been with UNA, as they have always been the administration candidates.

They have been consistent with the programs of PNoy and that, from the start, they stood on the platform of the President, he added, citing that the three concerned senatoriables have never shown up during UNA rallies.
(Teresa Ellera and Carla Canet)