NEGROS Occidental Third District Representative Alfredo Benitez clarified that the merger between their group and the United Negros Alliance (Unega) does not mind whether their members are under any national political group.

Benitez and Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson led Love Negros while the rival group was headed by Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., whose allies were endorsing former Fourth District representative Jeffrey Ferrer for vice governor in the merger.

Lacson is Love Negros’ standard-bearer for the 2019 elections.

Lacson belongs to the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) while Ferrer is a member of the National Unity Party (NUP).

Both Benitez and Marañon were allies in the national level being members of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) of the administration.

NPC and NUP are also allied with PDP-Laban.

"We can support any national party," Benitez said.

While local politicians have trooped in joining the PDP-Laban in 2016 after President Rodrigo Duterte won the election, the majority of them said they are uncertain now of their status with the national party.

The uncertainty happened after internal squabbling happened among the national party officials.