Guv says he will toe party line in 2022

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said he will most likely support the presidential and vice-presidential bets of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) in the May 2022 elections.

Lacson confirmed that he did not sign a manifesto of the League of Provinces of the Philippines that expressed support for the Senator Bong Go-Rodrigo Duterte tandem for the position of president and vice president.

The governor said he did not sign the document being a member of NPC, stressing that “we have not decided what we will do for 2022”.

“It is also my wish that in Negros Occidental, we have only one candidate. While it is possible, it is very difficult to achieve,” Lacson said.

Lacson said there is no advice yet for NPC members in Negros Occidental as to whom they will support in the presidential and vice-presidential race.

He expects that it will be known after the filing of Certificates of Candidacy in October this year.

As to the tandem of Senator Panfilo Lacson and Senate President Vicente Sotto III, who is a member of NPC, they have officially launched their bid for president and vice president.

“If that is the case, we will see our final instructions, especially after the filing of certificates of candidacy. We will know, if, indeed, NPC will have its own candidates”, Lacson said.

But Lacson said he will stick to the party’s decision.

“It’s been a while since NPC had members holding the top two positions. It would be nice to have one fellow member. But of course, it will be a challenge on how we can help make our party candidate win,” he also said.

During the 1992 elections, the late business tycoon Eduardo Cojuangco was defeated by then Defense Secretary Fidel Ramos in the presidential race.

Lacson said that NPC will be put to the test if it fields official candidates for president and vice-president.