FOUR mayors belonging to the United Negros Alliance (Unega) have reaffirmed support for the reelection bid of Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer for the May 9, 2022 elections.
Himamaylan City Mayor Raymund Tongson said his whole Team Toga, which stands for Tongson and Gatuslao for Vice Mayor Justin Gatuslao, and the 12 councilors will support the Lacson-Ferrer tandem.
"We are respecting and following the coalition agreement between Love-Negros and Unega," Tongson said, adding that they have a good relationship with Lacson and Ferrer.
Tongson said that also because of the coalition, three incumbent councilors who were allies of former mayor and now Board Member Ernesto Agustin Bascon have allied with Team Toga.
He named Councilors Janet Villafranca, Emmanuel Castro and Gerry Gamposilao.
Tongson said he already heard reports that Bascon will run against him in the coming election.
He also said that he leaves it to the provincial officials to make an announcement whom to support in the coming election.
"We're hoping for the best," Tongson said, as he pointed out the supposed coalition agreement, which is to observe the "Equity of the incumbent."
Binalbagan Mayor Alejandro Mirasol also gave Lacson a rating of 9 to 10, which is very satisfactory, when asked of the governor's performance rating on a scale of 1 to 10.
Mirasol said he wants continuity and give the Lacson-Ferrer tandem more years for managing well the affairs and projects of the province.
Mirasol also revealed that he already enjoys the endorsement of Lacson and Ferrer for his reelection bid.
He also said that his wife, Mary Ann Torre Mirasol, will run as his vice mayor, while Vice Mayor Ursecio Inodeo has already agreed to run for councilor.
Mirasol also confirmed that he will also support the reelection bid of Fifth District Representative Marilou Arroyo.
Don Salvador Benedicto Mayor Marxlen De la Cruz also said it is very obvious that he will support Lacson and Ferrer, who are both very close to him.
He said the entire first district will surely support the tandem.
He said they are united in the Love-Negros and Unega coalition and that the duo has been performing well for the province especially in catering to the needs of the Negrenses.
"We will support straight the re-election bid of Lacson and Ferrer and the incumbent board members in the first district no matter if they will have opponents in this coming election," De la Cruz said.
La Castellana Mayor Rhumyla Nicor-Manguilimutan said: "We will surely support Lacson and Ferrer for their re-election bid. They have been performing well so we don't need to change leadership."
Manguilimutan said her whole slate, which includes Vice Mayor Manuel Vera and five incumbent councilors, and the barangay officials will go all out for the tandem of Lacson and Ferrer and the reelection bid of Arroyo in the Fifth District.
She said Lacson has been extending the same support given to the town by the late Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr.
Manguilimutan also said they already have a complete slate in the town with the coming in of three more town officials who will also run for councilor.
Earlier, San Carlos City Mayor Renato Gustilo and Silay City Mayor Mark Andrew Golez confirmed support for the Lacson-Ferrer tandem.