NEGROS Occidental Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said he will announce Thursday which of his two options he will choose related to the May 2016 elections.
Lacson said that he will also inform his partymates in Love Negros about his decision.
"The public has been waiting for this important announcement that I will make today. My party mates will also listen to my decision," he said.
Lacson already ruled out the possibility of challenging Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., chairman of United Negros Alliance (Unega), which could mean that Marañon will likely run unopposed in his bid for a third and final term.
The vice governor said last month that he is down to only two options -- either to seek re-election or not run for any post at all.
After the failure of the proposed merger between Love Negros and Unega, Lacson said he has three options then -- either to run for governor, seek re-election, or not to run at all.
However, Love Negros mayors have started declaring support for Marañon, wanting him to finish his term unopposed, which is seen to have primarily influenced the decision of Lacson not to run for governor.
Lacson also refused to run for congressman despite the repeated endorsement of Marañon and his declared running mate fourth district Representative Jeffrey Ferrer.
Love Negros line-up
Meanwhile, Abang Lingkod partylist Representative Stephen Paduano said that Love Negros will also meet Thursday to finalize their official line-up for the provincial positions.
Asked if he will run for governor, Paduano said that he will wait for the party decision.
The meeting will be presided by Lacson with third district Representative Alfredo Benitez.
Marañon had earlier said that Unega is not going to field candidates against Benitez and sixth district Representative Mercedes Alvarez.
The Unega is also "adopting" sixth district Board Members Pedro Zayco and Helen Zafra, and fourth district Board Members Jose Benito Alonso and Victor Javellana, all members of Love Negros, the governor had said. (TDE)