Marañon downplays ‘confidential meeting’ with Oriental vice gov

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. confirmed he met on Friday with Vice Governors Eugenio Jose “Bong” Lacson (Negros Occidental) and Edward Mark Macias (Negros Oriental), but insisted it was nothing but “just a lunch.”

Downplaying the close-door conference, Marañon said “we have a short discussion” about the proposed One-Negros Island Region proposal.

The governor denied reports that the One-Negros Island Region plan has allegedly turned into a hotly debated political issue in Negros Oriental, as the rivalry between the two top provincial officials—Macias and Governor Roel Degamo—has intensified.

“I have no idea about that,” Marañon said, as he refused to comment on the matter, while Degamo could not be reached, as of press time.

Degamo and Macias were divided in their stand on the One-Negros Island Region plan, merging the two provinces. The Oriental governor was against the plan, while Macias was for it.

In earlier media interviews, Degamo insisted though that he was not against the proposal but the people in Negros Oriental, 70 percent of whom were not convinced to unite the two provinces into one region.

Marañon countered that Degamo’s opposition was politically motivated, saying that it was hard to convince the Oriental governor even if presented with all the feasibility study.

Marañon said, quoting Saint Paul, “for those who believe, no explanation is necessary. For those who don’t believe, no explanation is possible.”  (FREEMAN)