By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

With Negros Occidental Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and former fourth district Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer earlier expected to run unopposed for Negros Occidental governor and vice governor, respectively, under the unified Love Una ticket, the Negros Occidental-Commission on Elections recently revealed challengers for both candidates submitted certificates of candidacy hours before the filing deadline last Wednesday.

Rolandon Lotayco Parpa formally entered the race for governor, while Raul Sayson Baterna will vie for vice governor.

Both candidates will be running independently of each other.

Earlier this month, both Lacson and Ferrer, under the presumption of running unopposed, vowed to campaign regardless.

Meanwhile, three Negros Occidental congressional aspirants will not be facing opponents. Incumbent second district Rep. Leo Rafael Cueva; Dr. Francisco Benitez will succeed his brother, outgoing third district Rep. Alfredo Benitez; and Marilou Arroyo-Lesaca, the sister of former Negros Occidental fifth district Rep. Ignacio ‘Iggy’ Arroyo, Jr., will replace fifth district Rep. Alejandro Mirasol, who is currently serving his third and final term./DGB, WDJ