Guv urges fellow officials to focus more on COVID-19

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson urged elected officials to focus not much on politics, but on how to overcome and survive the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lacson issued this statement after the filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COC) for the May 2022 elections started on October 1, 2021.

Lacson said that he immediately went back to work after filing his COC with Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer, incumbent board members, and other allies seeking reelection as well as aspiring congressional candidates.

He said incumbent officials don’t have the luxury of using time for anything else, other than doing their job properly and judiciously for the province and the people.

The governor also called on the Philippine Army and Philippine National Police in Negros Occidental to stay neutral, as what they did in previous elections.

“We experienced many elections in the past where our men-in-uniform acted accordingly,” he said.

Meanwhile, more incumbent local officials in Negros Occidental and a congressional aspirant have filed their respective COCs on October 2 and 3.

Among those who filed for mayoralty posts were Vice Mayor Renato “JR” Malabor Jr. of Isabela, reelectionist mayors Salvador Escalante Jr. of Cadiz City, Gerry Rojas of Murcia, and Rex Jalandoon of La Carlota City.

Also on October 2, Anthony “Macoy” Javelosa, former barangay chairman of Aguisan in Himamaylan City, filed his COC at the COMELEC, which is temporarily holding office at the Provincial Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City.

Javelosa, who is running as an independent, will challenge reelectionist 5th District Rep. Maria Lourdes Arroyo, who also filed her COC on October 1.