Escalante: Talks should have taken place three months ago

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Provincial Board Member Salvador Escalante, Jr., who also serves as secretary-general for the United Negros Alliance (UNegA), said during a recent radio interview, talks between his coalition and Love Negros needs to be fast tracked since the filing for certificates of candidacy begins next month.

He said talks should have taken place three months ago.

Escalante also acknowledged it would be difficult to stop an individual’s political ambition but noted, “what matters most” are the statements made by incumbent Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. and Negros Occidental third district Rep. Alfredo Benitez.

The provincial board member earlier noted the two had previously met and already agreed to unite.

Last week, Abang Lingkod partylist Rep. Stephen Paduano claimed Benitez would not run in the 2019 polls on a unity ticket.

He also revealed, if the talks should fail, Benitez would run for governor with incumbent Negros Occidental Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson running for a final term. Although, he also suggested the possibility of Lacson running for governor and Love Negros fielding 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./DGB, WDJ