Negros Governor Faces Third Challenger

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY – A new challenger to Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson joined the race on the last day of filing certificates of candidacy (COC) for the May 12, 2024 midterm elections.

Former Victorias City Mayor Wantan Palanca filed his COC for governor on Tuesday afternoon, becoming the third candidate to challenge Lacson, who filed for re-election on October 3, 2024, seeking a third term.

Palanca is running under the PDP.

Also running under PDP, former Hinobaan Mayor Ernesto Estrao filed his COC for congressional representative of the 6th district.

Earlier, Architect JPaul Octaviano of Victorias and Ferdenand Diego, a 50-year-old farmer from Candoni claiming to be a former police officer, also filed their COCs for governor.

Opposing candidates for the 5th district congressional seat submitted their COCs Tuesday afternoon as well.

Provincial Board Member Anton Occen̈o of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas and 5th District Rep. Dino Yulo, seeking a second term, filed their COCs for congressional representative of the 5th district.

Provincial Comelec supervisor Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria described the COC filing from October 1 to 8 as “generally peaceful.”