By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. yesterday announced the PDP-Laban mass oath-taking, scheduled to take place in Victorias City on Thursday, October 5, has been postponed.
“Maybe they moved it for the MassKara Festival,” the governor speculated during a press conference.
With President Rodrigo Duterte expected to attend the festival on October 20, Marañon said his presence would likely increase attendance at the oath-taking, including those coming from Metro Manila.
Negros Occidental third district Rep. Alfredo Benitez previously estimated around 9,000 local officials would participate in the event, with House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III expected to be in attendance.
Duterte’s arrival, meanwhile, was confirmed on Sunday by Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Deputy Commissioner Jesus ‘Clint’ Aranas during the official opening of the 2017 MassKara Festival./WDJ