FINALLY, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has announced that he is supporting the presidential bid of Vice President Leni Robredo.
“When we face our ballots on May 9, there’s only one question you ask yourself, it’s who do you trust,” Lacson said Monday, February 28, as he ended speculations as to who is his candidate for president in the May 2022 elections.
The governor's announcement came six days after 28 of the 31 mayors in the province expressed their commitment to the presidential bid of former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and vice presidential bid of his runningmate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
Lacson said he has not yet talked with mayors Alfredo "Thirdy" Maranon III, Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. and Gina Montilla-Lizares of the cities of Sagay, Cadiz and Sipalay, respectively.
The three were not present when Marcos met with 28 other mayors prior to their caravan and grand rally in Negros Occidental last February 25.
Although not confirmed, the three mayors are reportedly supporting Robredo, too.
"I have previously said that I respect them," Lacson said of the mayors who are supporting Marcos, as he stressed that he will not exert effort anymore in trying to convince them to support Robredo instead.
“It will remain that majority of the mayors in Negros are for BBM-Sara tandem," he admitted.
Asked if he will actively campaign for Robredo, Lacson reiterated that, "Right now, I will confirm that I am for Robredo."
Lacson said he will attend the grand rally of Robredo in Negros Occidental should they invite him.
Robredo's team is tentatively going to have their political rally in Bacolod City on March 11.
As for the post of vice president, Lacson said the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), to which he belongs, will still have to meet this month.
A meeting was supposed to be scheduled on Sunday, February 27, but did not push through, he said.
“NPC members are still waiting if there is a strict order to support a certain candidate although the party is particularly focused on the position of vice president,” Lacson pointed out.
The governor said the decision of Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, who is the chairman of NPC, running for vice president was not made in consultation with party members.