By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD CITY – The United Negros Alliance (UnegA) officially named its vice gubernatorial candidate for the 2025 midterm elections during a general assembly attended by more than 200 members on Saturday at Nature’s Restaurant, Talisay City.
Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, UnegA Party president, declared that 4th District Provincial Board Member Joven Alonso will be the party’s candidate for vice governor in next year’s polls.
Ferrer also announced that he will not seek a third term as vice governor and plans to return to the 4th congressional district, as his wife, Rep. Juliet Ferrer, is set to complete her final term.
He told reporters that the party has resolved conflicts in areas where two members are set to run against each other.
Ferrer cited Moises Padilla town, where incumbent Mayor Ella Garcia-Yulo will be challenged by Vice Mayor Ian Villaflor. Both are members of UnegA and the National Unity Party.
However, Ferrer emphasized that the party is inclined to give Yulo the Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA) under the equity of the incumbent rule.
“Let’s face it, we cannot stop them from running against each other,” Ferrer said.
He added that, together with the party’s chairman and secretary-general, 2nd District Rep. Alfredo “Thirdy” Marañon III and Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante, they met with Yulo and Villaflor and reached an agreement.
Ferrer also affirmed UnegA’s commitment to support Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson’s bid for a third term, in line with their coalition with Lacson’s Love Negros Team.
The coalition, which began in 2019 and continued through the 2022 elections, will remain intact for the 2025 elections. Under this agreement, the coalition partners will not field opponents against each other for the province’s top two elective posts.
Lacson, who also attended the general assembly, confirmed the coalition and voiced his support for Alonso.
“If I have worked well with Vice Governor Ferrer, I believe I can do the same with Alonso if we are elected,” Lacson said.
Lacson added that he hopes the coalition will continue beyond the 2025 elections.
During the gathering, Lacson also announced that former 1st District representative Jules Ledesma will return to politics in the 2025 elections.
Ledesma, a well-known businessman and the political leader of the 1st District, served in the House of Representatives from June 30, 1995, to June 30, 2004, and again from June 30, 2007, to June 30, 2016.
He stepped away from politics after marrying actress Assunta de Rossi.
