LOVE Negros led by Third District Representative Alfredo “Albee” Benitez and Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has come out on Sunday, September 13, with its initial list of candidates in the province for the 2019 elections.

Lacson said he has been saying the merger between Love Negros and the United Negros Alliance (Unega) may not be a perfect merger because not every local government unit there will be one candidate.

"What is important is that we have agreed on top which is very crucial to the management of the province," he said.

He also said they will only wait for the official announcement of Unega about their endorsement of former Fourth District representative Jeffrey Ferrer to be their vice gubernatorial candidate.

Here is the initial line-up of Love Negros for congressmen, board members and mayors in the province:

First District

* Congressman - San Carlos Mayor Gerardo Valmayor Jr.

* Board members - incumbent Board Member Rommel Debulgado and Calatrava Mayor Araceli Somoso

* San Carlos City mayor - Vice Mayor Renato Gustilo

* Calatrava mayor - Vice Mayor Marioyn Era

* Escalante City mayor - Congressman Melecio Yap Yr.

Third District

* Congressman - Francisco Benitez, brother of Benitez

* Board members - Board Member Manuel Frederick Ko and Murcia Mayor Andrew Montelibano

* Victorias City mayor - Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca

* Silay City mayor - Mayor Mark Andrew Arthur Golez

* Talisay City mayor - Mayor Nilo Antonio Lizares

* E.B. Magalona mayor - Mayor Marvin Malacon

* Murcia mayor - Vice Mayor Gerry Rojas

Fourth District

* Valladolid mayor - Mayor Enrique Miravalles

Fifth District

* Congressman - Himamaylan City Mayor Agustin Ernesto Bascon

* Hinigaran mayor - Mayor Jose Nadie Arceo

* Moises Padilla mayor - Mayor Magdaleno Peña

* Himamaylan City mayor - Vice Mayor Carminia Bascon

Sixth District

* Congressman - former vice governor Genaro Alvarez Jr.

* Kabankalan City mayor - Board Member Pedro Zayco

* Cauayan mayor - Mayor John Rey Tabujara

* Ilog mayor - Mayor Genaro Rafael Alvarez

* Sipalay City mayor - Vice Mayor Gina Montilla-Lizares

Benitez said the parameters of the merger was only about the governor and vice governor.

When asked what will happen in some areas where a possible showdown between the candidates of two parties cannot be avoided, “we will just have effort," he said

Benitez also said he has been reminding candidates to prepare every election against any opponent as they have no authority to tell anyone that nobody will oppose him in the election."

“Anything is always possible. So I always tell incumbent officials to perform well because that is their best weapon to win the election with or without an opponent," Benitez said when asked on reports that Board Member David Albert Lacson may run against his brother in the third district. (TDE)