NOW that the filing of the Certificates of Candidacy is fast approaching, political groups in Negros Occidental have started to reveal its slate for the 2019 elections.

On Sunday, Love Negros led by Third District Representative Alfredo Benitez and Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has already come out with their initial list of candidates for 2019.

Love Negros finally confirmed that Lacson will be its standard-bearer.

This only opens its merger with rival United Negros Alliance (Unega), which is led by Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr.

Unega’s vice gubernatorial bet is former Fourth District representative Jeffrey Ferrer, who challenged Lacson in the 2016 elections.

The merger will be formally announced by the two groups soon.

Lacson said the merger between the two groups may not be a perfect one since there will be a local government unit (LGU) that will be fielded by Love Negros and Unega.

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

Benitez, for his part, said the reason for the merger is for the sake of development and progress of the province because there will be unity among leaders.

The solon will temporarily retire from politics, but will still help the province especially in attracting investors.

The election is still better if there’s opposition. It only meant that democracy is alive.