By JEN BAYLON

Negros Occidental Vice Governor and United Negros Alliance (UNegA) president Jeffrey Ferrer has no comment on the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino’s (PDP) plan to endorse former Victorias City Mayor Wantan Palanca as their candidate for governor in the 2025 midterm elections.

Ferrer said he will not comment on the matter because he is not aware of the party’s selection process.

He also mentioned that it is their right to choose whoever candidate they would like to endorse.

Ferrer said UNegA will support Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson until his term ends in 2028.

Earlier this week, Atty. Jesus Villanueva Hinlo, PDP deputy secretary general for Visayas, said they are considering fielding Palanca against Lacson in the midterm elections.

Several PDP members in Victorias resigned after receiving information that Palanca was being considered for endorsement as the PDP’s gubernatorial candidate.

“We note that such decision [by Hinlo] was made without consultation with the undersigned PDP-Laban members and incumbent officials of Victorias City, Negros Occidental,” the officials said.

“It appears that the leadership of PDP-Laban in Negros Occidental under Atty. Hinlo has overlooked the basic principle that an organization should promote inclusivity through ‘consultation before decision,’ not the other way around,” they added./JB, WDJ