Bacolod City – Stalwarts of two major political groups in Negros Occidental, the Love Negros Team and the United Negros Alliance (UNegA), reaffirmed their unity and pledged to strengthen the province’s political landscape.
During the Love Negros Team’s convention on Sunday, Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez, acknowledged leader of the group, emphasized that the presence of Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, UNegA president, underscored the strength of the alliance between Love Negros and UNegA.
“So whatever you hear from the ‘Mariteses,’ don’t believe it,” Benitez said, referring to social media posts suggesting tension within the alliance after he did not attend the recent Unega general assembly.
He stressed that the alliance remains strong and cooperative.
“Here with us, we are very solid, and it shows. The national candidates have seen it; they can see that we have a very solid foundation, partnership, and the alliance is very strong,” Benitez added.
He also highlighted the alliance’s unity regardless of developments on the national political scene.
Benitez noted that members come from various political parties, primarily from the Nationalist People’s Coalition, with others from the National Unity Party and Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, the latter of which he is a member.
“This is multi-party, but all of us candidates will support each other because we are one. Although there are two groupings, we are united in our common goal of ensuring the unity and solidarity of this political alliance,” he said.
Vice Governor Ferrer echoed Benitez’s sentiments, urging the public not to believe rumors.
“We want to solidify Negros, and we want to show the entire country that the province of Negros Occidental is united,” Ferrer said.
He added that political hostility between the two groups is a thing of the past, and rivalry between them is slowly being extinguished.
During the convention, both political groups endorsed the candidacy of former Kabankalan Mayor Isidro Zayco, who confirmed he is running for mayor of Kabankalan City.
Zayco’s running mate will be incumbent Vice Mayor Miguel Zayco.
The duo will challenge the husband-and-wife tandem of Mayor Benjie Miranda, who is seeking a second term, and his wife, Divina, a schoolteacher, who will run as his vice mayoral candidate.
The Love Negros Team also officially endorsed Board Member Joven Alonso as vice governor.
