Guv Says Coalition Still Backs Ferrer

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY — Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson reiterated on Wednesday that Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer’s congressional bid in the Fourth District of Negros Occidental continues to have the support of both Love Negros and United Negros Alliance (UNegA).

This statement came in response to the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) fielding a candidate to challenge Ferrer in the 2025 midterm elections.

“That’s basically the status right now,” Lacson, a member of NPC, told reporters.

The Love Negros-UNegA coalition in Negros Occidental includes members from NPC, Lakas-CMD, National Unity Party (NUP), and Partido Federal ng Pilipinas.

On the first day of the filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) on Oct. 1, Bago City Mayor Nicholas Yulo announced that he and Vice Mayor Ramon Torres had resigned from NPC, the political party they had been affiliated with for more than two decades.

This, after NPC fielded a candidate against Ferrer in the Fourth District congressional race.

The NPC has endorsed Lea Delfinado, former regional director of the Department of Public Works and Highways-Western Visayas, to challenge Ferrer.

A photo posted on social media showed Delfinado receiving the NPC Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance from Lisa Cojuangco-Cruz and Claudia Cojuangco, representing NPC.

“That’s their call and decision. I think they have a reason for that,” Lacson said.

However, the governor noted that he would issue a statement after the Oct. 8 filing of COCs on the matter.

Yulo and Torres, who had been members of NPC for 20 years and 33 years, respectively, have since joined Ferrer in the NUP.

In addition to being a member of NUP, Ferrer also serves as the president of UNegA, which has been in a coalition with Love Negros since the 2019 elections.

Other prominent NPC members in Negros Occidental include Reps. Mercedes Alvarez of the Sixth District and Gerardo Valmayor Jr. of the First District, along with several mayors.

Meanwhile, Lacson is set to file his Certificate of Candidacy today, Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, at 3 p.m.

He is seeking re-election for a third term as governor, and Provincial Board Member Joeven Alonso is expected to join him as his vice gubernatorial candidate.

Jules Ledesma, a candidate for the First District congressional seat, will also accompany them.