By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The possibility of a split within PDP-Laban due to differences of its leaders “won’t matter much” to the United Negros Alliance (UNegA), disclosed by its secretary general, Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr.

Almost majority of UNegA members led by the late Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. were among the 11,000 Negrenses who took their oath as PDP-Laban members in 2017.

Escalante explained that such a move aims to coalesce with PDP-Laban to show support to President Rodrigo Duterte, although they did not vote for him during the 2016 elections.

UNegA members in Negros Occidental  supported presidential candidate Mar Roxas during the election.

Surigao del Sur. Rep. Johnny Pimentel, in an interview with One News, raised the possibility of a split of PDP-Laban as tensions grow between supporters of President Duterte and Sen. Manny Pacquaio.

Escalante recalled that then governor Marañon when he bolted from the Nationalist People’s Coalition, was not affiliated to any national political party, except the UNegA.

Since they extended all out support to Roxas, who lost in the previous election, he said they joined PDP-Laban, this time, to support the programs of the President.

“If the PDP-Laban will split or whatever, it won’t matter much to us in UNegA,” Escalante stressed.

PDP-Laban will have its national assembly on July 17.

Escalante added that UNegA chairman, Sagay City Mayor Alfredo “Tirdie” Marañon III, expressed his intention to hold a general assembly among the members.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they may hold the assembly per district to avoid violating the mandated health protocols, he added./DGB, WDJ