Escalante: We do not know what is being proposed

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The United Negros Alliance (UNegA) is committed to a shift to federalism, Negros Occidental Board Member Salvador Escalante, Jr. said yesterday.

Escalante, who serves as secretary-general for the local party, said Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Maranon, Jr., believes the move to federalism “will go first before the midterm elections.”

“UNegA leadership also believes that we should concentrate on the shift in form of government before we talk about the May 2019 election,” he pointed out.

Escalante called the Constitutional Committee consultation, which takes place today, “very vital.”

“We are talking about a shift to federalism, but we do not know what is being proposed to us,” he explained. “If the proposal is laid on the table, then we will know the magnitude of the risk that we will face.”

He also responded to claims by Catholic Church calling the shift “dangerous.”

“There is always danger [with] every switch in form of government,” the provincial official said.

With regard to the call by Negros Occidental PDP-Laban provincial president, Atty. Clint Aranas, for political leaders in Negros to unite, Escalante said, “He may be just reiterating the call of the governor for all leaders in Negros to unite.”/DGB, WDJ