By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

PDP-Laban Negros Secretary-General Yves Akol yesterday revealed Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. and Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia have been appointed to head the party in the province and city, respectively, ahead of the 2019 elections.

“They have the mandate of the people, that’s why they lead the party here,” Akol said in an interview with members of the media yesterday. “We respect the mandate of the people.”

He explained Marañon will choose party candidates, from governor down to every district.

Both Negros Occidental third district Rep. Alfredo Benitez and Marañon are PDP-Laban members; however, the former leads local political coalition Love Negros, while the latter heads the United Negros Alliance (UNegA), both of which are expected to field candidates in the upcoming polls.

Meanwhile, Akol noted they will also be campaigning for federalism throughout the first two quarters of 2018.

“We will do it per district with the help of the governor,” he said. “We will hold trainings and orientations in every district.”/DGB, WDJ