NEGROS Occidental Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and former Fourth District representative Jeffrey Ferrer are set to file their certificate of candidacy (COC) today for governor and vice governor, respectively, along with the other candidates for congressman and board members in the province.

Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. earlier said he will join the tandem during the filing of their COC today.

Lacson said he wants a simple filing of the COC and that if there will be a festive mood at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) provincial office that's because their supporters wanted it.

"We will file our COC together and then we will wait for our group mates who will file their COCs at the Comelec," Lacson said.

He said Dr. Francisco Benitez, brother of Third District Representative Alfredo Benitez, and Marilou Arroyo-Lesaca, sister of the late congressman Ignacio Arroyo and sister-in-law of former president and now House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, will file their COCs for congressman of the Third District and Fifth District, respectively.

Lacson confirmed that Himamaylan City Mayor Agustin Ernesto Bascon has agreed to run for board member in the Fifth District to give way for Arroyo-Lesaca.

Mayors in the Third District have agreed to hold a caravan with some supporters and will converge at the provincial Comelec office to show support for Benitez.

Lacson also said San Carlos City Mayor Gerardo Valmayor will also file his COC today for congressman of the First district as incumbent congressman Melecio Yap Jr. will run for mayor of Escalante City while incumbent Mayor Eddie Montero will run for councilor.