By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The United Negros Alliance (UNegA) plans to hold a convention next month to select candidates for the 2019 elections, according to Negros Occidental Board Member David Lacson.
He said UNegA leader, Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. will deliver an official statement on the coalition’s selection to succeed him as governor.
Marañon is currently in his third and final term.
Lacson revealed the party is backing former Negros Occidental fourth district Rep. Jeffery Ferrer, who ran an unsuccessful campaign for vice governor in the 2016 polls. However, he noted, the governor’s statement will be the party’s official stance.
Earlier this month, after Negros Occidental third district Rep. Alfredo Benitez was unanimously endorsed by the mayors of his district, Marañon said he would back the congressman’s 2019 aspirations.
Additionally, back in March, he also called Benitez “one of the good bets” for governor.
Meanwhile, Benitez, who leads the rival Love Negros coalition, recently stated their group has yet to determine candidates for 2019./WDJ