By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

In a phone interview yesterday, Himamaylan City Councilor Justin Gatuslao said he is looking forward to a possible unity ticket between local political coalitions, the United Negros Alliance (UNegA) and Love Negros, in the upcoming 2019 elections.

The city official, a member of UNegA, echoed speculation by others who claimed, under a unity ticket, UNegA would field a candidate for vice governor. He named 2016 vice gubernatorial candidate and former Negros Occidental fifth district Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer as the rumored candidate.

Earlier, Negros Occidental Provincial Board Member Salvador Escalante, Jr., who also serves as UNegA secretary general, said talks between his coalition and Love Negros need to be fast tracked since the filing for certificates of candidacy begins next month.

The provincial board member earlier noted, incumbent Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr., representing UNegA, and Negros Occidental third district Rep. Alfredo Benitez, for Love Negros, had previously met and already agreed to unite.

Negros Occidental Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, meanwhile, said he, along with Benitez, will make a joint announcement regarding plans for Love Negros by the end of September./DGB, WDJ