Sugar leader supports Alvarez

PULUPUNDAN Mayor Magdaleno Peña said Sunday that one of the top leaders of sugar planters in Negros Occidental and in the country has declared his support for Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez, the gubernatorial bet of the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) for this coming May elections.

Peña was referring to sugar industry leader Manolet Lamata, president of the United Sugar Federation of the Philippines (Unifed), who, he said, declared his support for Alvarez during a meeting with NPC chairman emeritus former ambassador Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco Jr. over the weekend in Negros Occidental.

Unifed is one of the four major sugar planters federations in the country; the other three being Confed headed by former Negros Occidental governor and former Sugar Regulatory Administrator Lito Coscolluela, the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters headed by Enrique D. Rojas, and Panayfed under the leadership of Danilo Abelita.

Also present during the meeting were Alvarez himself, NPC provincial chairman Kabankalan City Mayor Isidro Zayco and Bob Gatuslao, said Peña.

Sun.Star Bacolod tried to get Lamata’s statement, but was unable to reach him as of press time Sunday.

Peña also disclosed that Cojuangco also met with the barangay captains of Valladolid to exhort them to fully support the entire NPC slate in the province and in the fourth district, particularly for the candidacy of Ike Barredo, who is challenging last-termer Representative Jeffrey Ferrer.

Peña earlier declared his support for Barredo and stated that all the barangay captains in Pulupandan will support the entire NPC slate.