Marañon now unsure of UNA's support

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Only a month after he declared his intention to run for governor in 2013, Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. said he is no longer sure of the support of his party, the United Negros Alliance (UNA).

“I will not comment on something that is not sure,” Marañon replied when asked if he is confident that UNA will choose him as its gubernatorial bet in next year’s elections.

Rumors have been circulating that Marañon is no longer getting the support of majority of UNA members. The governor had earlier claimed that 19 out of 31 mayors are supporting his reelection bid.

Marañon said the executive committee of UNA, composed of him as chairman, the six congressmen and Kabankalan City Mayor Isidro Zayco as ex-officio member being the former governor, will have a meeting on the first week of September, to decide the party’s candidate for governor next year.

Marañon said he will abide by the decision of the party, adding that the six congressmen and the mayors will decide for the party’s gubernatorial bet in a thorough discussion.

Last Friday, 3rd District Rep. Alfredo “Albee” Benitez however said that, for the past elections, UNA has been observing a “formal selection process” to decide on its candidates for governor down to the councilors. Under the UNA guidelines, it will only be the six congressmen of Negros Occidental who will meet and decide who is going to be their candidate for governor, he said.

Marañon’s reelection bid has been reportedly opposed by Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez Jr., the vice chairman of UNA, an umbrella party of major national political parties, including the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), whose provincial chairman is Marañon and vice chairman is Alvarez.

Alvarez had announced that, in a meeting of NPC recently, the mayors have endorsed him to run for governor although he refused to comment if he is indeed running.

Sources said the pronouncements of Marañon and Alvarez caused alleged maneuverings by some people that could make major changes in the political scenario of the province. It seems the mayors are involved in a tug-of-war, sources added, with Alvarez claiming he had the support of 17 mayors against the 19 of Marañon.

Marañon was not present in the recent meetings of NPC. The NPC mayors and Alvarez reportedly met with UNA founder, former ambassador Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. in Manila, without Marañon. There were also talks that Cojuangco is endorsing Alvarez for governor.

Mayor Zayco was reportedly endorsed by the NPC national directorate to replace Marañon as provincial chair, but Zayco has not accepted the offer pending an official appointment. Marañon also declined to comment on the status of his NPC chairmanship, saying he has not received an official communication from the NPC national directorate.

While refusing to comment on reports that some people were maneuvering the scenario in UNA, Marañon vowed to work to preserve the unity in the party.

Benitez meanwhile said UNA mayors would also like to preserve the unity in UNA as they would not like the party to disintegrate.