ACTING Negros Occidental Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, who is also the president of United Negros Alliance (UneGa), said Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson is welcome if he wants to join the local party.
Ferrer stressed that the merger between UneGa and Love Negros, which is led by Lacson, is still very much "in place" until this time, and in the coming 2025 elections.
"We are one since we forged an alliance in 2019," Ferrer said.
Such reports about Lacson's possibility of joining UneGa came out after Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr., who is the secretary-general of UneGa, reaffirmed the party's support for Lacson's reelection bid for his last term in 2025.
Reports also came out that Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel "Javi" Benitez may run for governor in 2022, which was denied outright by Benitez and his father, Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo "Albee" Benitez.
Mayor Albee said that they are on good terms with Lacson and that they will support him in 2025 for his reelection bid. He said his son's going around the province is part of his duties as president of the Association of Chief Executives (ACE-Negros).
Escalante only said that UneGa will back Lacson’s bid. He didn’t say that the governor would be jumping ship to their local party.
Ferrer also said Lacson never mentioned to him any plan to transfer to UneGa, though it would be advantageous to the party if it went through.
Ferrer, meanwhile, did not confirm or deny when asked if he will return to the position as representative of the fourth district in Congress in 2025, as incumbent Rep. Juliet Marie Ferrer, his wife, will already end her term.*