Maceda: Marañon deserves reelection

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Former Senator Ernesto Maceda said Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. deserves reelection in 2013, citing his good performance.

Maceda, who held a press conference with Marañon at the Provincial Capitol last Friday, said the governor has done well especially in agriculture.

Under Marañon, Negros Occidental became 93 percent self-sufficient in rice, and is expected to be 100 percent self-sufficient next year, he said. The governor has an impressive record in swine dispersal, he added.

Maceda made this comment when asked if he thinks Marañon will win in next year’s election. Maceda said that it depends on the people of Negros, but “on the basis of his performance, he deserves to be reelected.” 

Maceda, who is running for senator next year under the United Nationalist Alliance, is former president of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), while Marañon used to be NPC provincial chairman.

Marañon, chairman of the United Negros Alliance (UNA), has declared his intention to seek reelection. Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez Jr., vice chairman of UNA and NPC Negros, is rumored to oppose him.

Alvarez had announced that Negros mayors belonging to NPC are endorsing him to run for governor next year. He, however, has not signified whether he is running for governor in 2013.

On the rule of equity of the incumbent, Maceda said while it is observed in NPC, the party leadership rules supreme. “It should (be observed) but it depends on the leadership of the party. It can do away with equity of the incumbent, party leadership is supreme,” Maceda stressed.

The former senator said usually, when there is a rift between or among local candidates, the party leadership of NPC composed of president, chairman and the executive committee settles the issue.

When the controversies cannot be settled by the party leadership, it’s NPC chairman emeritus Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr. who decides for it, especially in Negros Occidental and Tarlac, Maceda said.

“The party leadership will decide, but in case it cannot be decided by arbitration, by talking, or by compromise, there is a possibility of declaring it a free zone,” he added. But Maceda is calling for unity in the party amid the perceived conflict between Marañon and Alvarez.

Meanwhile, Marañon said he is not sure yet if he will attend the UNA meeting in Manila on August 30.

Earlier, Kabankalan Mayor Isidro Zayco, who was recently appointed NPC provincial chairman thereby replacing Marañon, said those expected to attend the UNA meeting are him, Marañon, Alvarez, and the six Negros Occidental congressmen.

Zayco said the UNA meeting is expected to decide who will be their standard bearer in the province for the 2013 elections. — THE FREEMAN