25 Negros execs bolt Lakas coalition

BACOLOD CITY — Twenty-five incumbent government officials in Negros Occidental joined Gov. Joseph Marañon and his brother, Rep. Alfredo Marañon, in breaking ties yesterday with the local Lakas-CMD (Christian Muslim Democrats) coalition.

Most of the officials, who include 15 mayors and seven provincial board members, are members of the United Negros Alliance which is affiliated with the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).

"It was a show of force," Gov. Marañon said.

The concerned officials did not categorically say whether breaking ties with the Lakas-CMD meant that they would support opposition presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr.

"Wherever the governor goes, we go," said one of them. The Marañons, however, have publicly announced their support for Poe.

Vice Gov. Elpidio Zayco and Rep. Jose Carlos Lacson, provincial Lakas-CMD chairman and vice chairman, respectively, also officially announced their resignation from the administration party.

Zayco earlier told President Arroyo in a closed-door meeting here last March 29, that his decision to remain in Lakas-CMD would depend on his discussions with Gov. Marañon.

Even if he remained in the Lakas-CMD, Zayco said his loyalty would always be doubted because of his links to the Marañons.

Zayco, along with other local Lakas-CMD leaders, have expressed disappointment over the ruling party’s failure to give them strong support, saying they felt they were being treated like "fourth-class citizens."

When the President visited this city to open the Panaad Festival last March 27, Zayco said she instructed Speaker Jose de Venecia to coordinate with local leaders.

But until yesterday, De Venecia, who chairs the Lakas-CMD, had allegedly not made any effort to call on local leaders.

Zayco said he received yesterday only a text message instructing him to call De Venecia.

Reports said people allied with the Arroyo administration made a last-ditch effort to convince the 15 mayors not to join the Marañons and allegedly offered P3 million to each of them.

Bacolod City Mayor Luzviminda Valdez, who insisted that her support is still for Mrs. Arroyo, earlier said she would not find such an exodus surprising.

She said there were several parallel organizations in Negros Occidental although it was not clear to her which of the groups call the shots.

Presidential brother-in-law Ignacio Arroyo used to be the regional Lakas-CMD chairman but he went on leave when he filed his candidacy for fifth district congressman under the KGMA party.