By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

After much speculation surrounding possible aspirations to succeed incumbent Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr., Negros Occidental third district Rep. Alfredo Benitez said he will not pursue the post as he would prefer not to run against Love Negros partymate, incumbent Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, who previously expressed an interest in the position.

“I will not run against him,” he stated.

The congressman, who was earlier unanimously endorsed for governor by the mayors of his district, is considered a potential senatorial candidate, with the ruling PDP-Laban reportedly reserving a place for him in their 2019 slate.

Last month, Lacson and Benitez met to discuss the elections.

At the time, the vice governor said, “There was an agreement but I cannot divulge any details.”

Former Negros Occidental fourth district Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer, who unsuccessfully ran for vice governor in 2016, is currently being floated as the United Negros Alliance (UNegA) candidate for governor./DGB, WDJ