by Eugene Adiong on Thu, 06/15/2017

Is the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) in Negros Occidental gearing up for a revitalized fight in the 2019 elections?

This seems to be the case after Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson confirmed that his party is in “a recruitment phase” right now in the province.

“To my understanding, yes,” Lacson said.

This developed after reports came out that former ambassador and business tycoon Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. has returned as the chairman of one of the biggest political parties in the country.

Cojuangco reportedly lied-low from heading NPC over health issues.

For the vice governor, “it only means that Ambassador Cojuangco will take an active role in NPC after the hiatus.”

“What happens in Negros really depends on its leaders, be that in the public or private sector,” Lacson pointed out.

Pressed if the return of Cojuangco at the helm of the party will revitalize the NPC in the province, he said “it will depend how successful the recruitment will be.”

‘DOES NOT MATTER’. For its rival, the return of Cojuangco “does not matter.”

Negros Occidental Provincial Board Member Salvador Escalante, secretary general of the United Negros Alliance (UNegA) said that despite reports that the tycoon has laid-low, many politicians in the province still go to him “for support, blessing and wisdom.”

“For UNegA as a provincial party, his return has no effect,” Escalante said.

He said that “Ambassador Cojuangco has never left politics in Negros. He is still a force to reckon with.”

He also said that “as far as politics is concerned, our party has not talked about it yet.”

“Everything is still liquid. Everything can still happen. Maybe elections will not even push through,” he added.

Considering that Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. is on his last term, “nothing is definite yet as to who will replace him. But we have many materials to choose from.”

“With the statement of the Governor that he may support Rep. Alfredo Benitez (3rd District) if he may decide to run as senator or even governor, to come out with a standard bearer for governor is immaterial,” Escalante said.

“We don’t have to merge,” he said, “if Cong. Albee will run for governor we can have the vice governor.”

As to Lacson running for governor, “the Governor has no commitment yet to that,” Escalante said.* (Eugene Y. Adiong)