KABANKALAN City Mayor Isidro Zayco is denying he will run for governor next year.

Zayco’s name has constantly surfaced as a possible gubernatorial candidate of the Nationalist People’s Coalition-Love Negros Team, which is up against incumbent Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr., who is expected to run for his third and last term.

“I am not running and I will not run for governor in the 2016 elections and even in the elections after that,” Zayco said.

Zayco, who was elected vice governor in 2007, assumed the governor’s seat in March 2008 following the death of Gov. Joseph Marañon, brother of incumbent governor Alfredo Maranon Jr.

Zayco recalled that he was being pushed to run for governor in 2010 unopposed but he opted to run instead for mayor in his hometown in Kabankalan City, where he is now on his second term.

“Surely I will run in the 2016 elections but it will be for reelection,” he said.

Zayco said that if he has plans to run for governor he would have done so in 2010.

He added that he will finish his third and last term if he gets re-elected, and after that he will retire from politics.

“I want to enjoy the remaining days of my life after spending almost 18 years in politics,” Zayco said.