By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Abang Lingkod partylist Rep. Stephen Paduano yesterday said Negros Occidental third district Rep. Alfredo Benitez will not run in the 2019 midterm elections if there is a unity ticket between Love Negros and the United Negros Alliance (UNegA).

In a press conference called by Paduano yesterday morning, he dispelled rumors of a possible “AA” tandem, which refers to Benitez running for governor with Sagay City Mayor Alfredo Marañon III as his running mate.

He called it “fake news.”

The legislator said, should negotiations fail, it is possible Benitez would run for governor with incumbent Negros Occidental Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson running for a final term. The vice governor earlier stated he had no problem running for re-election in the upcoming elections.

Paduano also suggested Lacson may run for governor and Love Negros would field a new candidate for vice governor.

However, if negotiations succeed, Paduano said the official position of Love Negros indicates Lacson would run for governor and UNegA would run a candidate for vice governor.

“That is the official position of Love Negros and Benitez,” Paduano claimed.

Paduano said Benitez is willing to sacrifice himself to unite Negros Occidental and Lacson, as an incumbent, has the “moral authority” to become governor.

Aside from the gubernatorial post, Benitez’ name has also been floated as a possible senatorial candidate in the 2019 polls under the ruling PDP-Laban.

Meanwhile, 2016 vice gubernatorial candidate and former Negros Occidental fifth district Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer has also been named as a potential UNegA candidate for governor./DGB, WDJ