BACOLOD, Philippines – With nearly a month before the filing of the certificate of candidacy (COC) on October 1 to 8 for the 2025 elections, an inevitable clash is seen among the political allies of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the Negros Island Region (NIR).
South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo, national president of Marcos’ Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), on Monday, August 26, said they already had the “super majority” of NIR local officials.
But the problem is, most members of this super majority will be the same ones who will clash among themselves in their respective towns and cities during next year’s local polls.
This inevitable intramural has prompted the PFP to create a steering committee to handle the problem, and to iron out the kinks before the filing of COC.
However, Tamayo could not even say whether the principle of the “equity of the incumbent” would prevail amid the foreseen chaotic political situation in NIR.
He said the steering committee will promulgate its own rules and criteria in choosing party’s officials bets in the local scene.
Tamayo was in Bacolod on August 26 to lead the oath-taking of 210 local officials in NIR—from mayors down to councilors—who officially joined PFP at rites held at L’ Fisher Hotel.
The PFP president said he was confident that what seemed a chaotic political scenario for their party in Negros would be resolved a week before the filing of COC.
Tamayo could not even commit if the PFP would declare “zona libre” (free zone) in certain contentious areas.
Areas in NIR where Marcos allies are on a collision course include the towns and cities in Negros Occidental 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th congressional districts as well as in the Lone District of Bacolod City.
What complicated the situation for the PFP were its alliances with Manny Villar’s National Unity Party (NUP), the late Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr.’s National People’s Coalition (NPC) and House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez’s Christian Muslim Democrats(Lakas-CMD).
There are Negros politicians who belonged to NUP, NPC and Lakas-CMDP, but are in areas to be contested by those from PFP.
Take the situation in Kabankalan City, incumbent Negros Occidental Mayor Benjie Miranda of PFP will likely be challenged by NPC provincial head, former governor Isidro Zayco.
In EB Magalona town, outgoing Mayor Marvin Malacon is now a PFP member. Malacon’s son, Matthew Louis, who also took his oath as new PFP member, will vie to succeed him. Expected to challenge the young Malacon is incumbent town councilor Wyndel Depasucat, also a PFP member.
In Silay City, Mayor Joedith Gallego is a certified PFP member. His reelection bid will be possibly challenged by former mayor Mark Arthur Golez, who took his oath as new PFP member Monday.
A squabble also loomed in Talisay City, where the two declared candidates for vice mayor—incumbent Nicolai Jalandoni and his challenger Councilor Gab Villacin—both took their oath as PFP members.
In the case of Bacolod, Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez’s likely challenger is Representative Greg Gasataya, who is a member of NPC, an ally of PFP.
Benitez is provincial chairman of former president Rodrigo Duterte’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP). Though Benitez is a childhood friend of Marcos, he has remained with Duterte’s party.
Last May, Benitez said he would leave PDP and take with him some 60 Negros Occidental local officials. But that has yet to happen.
Benitez was absent during the oath-taking for new PFP members from NIR, but his son, Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel and brother, former congressman and now Technical Education and Skills Development Authority director general, Jose Francisco, were among the attendees.
Javier Miguel, the president of the Association of Chief Executives-Negros took his oath as new PFP member.
He saying PFP is movement dedicated to progress and innovation of the country.
Tamayo, meanwhile, assured Negrenses that leaders of all allied parties of PFP will meet to discuss how to resolve the looming clash in next year’s elections. “Rest assured that we will do our best to choose the best candidates who will win,” he said.
Tamayo added that PFP was committed to extending financial or logistical support to their local candidates. at all cost.
Meanwhile, lawyer Jesus Hinlo, Jr., deputy secretary general for Visayas and provincial council president for Negros of PDP, said they will have a final meeting next week to finalize the status of former Victorias Mayor Francis Frederick “Wantan” Palanca. Palanca is considering running for governor against the incumbent Eugenio Jose Lacson.
PDP was still open for coalition with other local political parties, Hinlo added. – Rappler.com