By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Local political coalitions Love Negros and the United Negros Alliance (UNegA) are set to issue a joint announcement tomorrow, October 3, regarding the merger and line-ups for the upcoming 2019 midterm elections.

Negros Occidental Provincial Board Member Salvador Escalante, Jr., who serves as secretary-general for UNegA, said the announcement will formalize the merger.

UNegA will also officially announce their vice gubernatorial bet, which is expected to be 2016 vice gubernatorial candidate and former Negros Occidental fourth district Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer

Earlier, Love Negros, headed by Negros Occidental third district Rep. Alfredo Benitez and Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, declared the latter as their gubernatorial candidate for the 2019 polls.

They also confirmed Love Negros had accepted a merger with UNegA.

The two party officials said they would accept whomever they nominate for vice governor.

Both groups also said they would work towards a merger on the local level; however, Escalante earlier admitted, “There are several areas where a political confrontation will not be avoided.”/DGB, WDJ