ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
THE PROVINCE of Negros Occidental is being stirred by the upcoming Macau trip of the mayors.
Negros local chief executives are said to be flying to Macau next week, headed by Victorias City’s Mayor Javier Miguel “Javi” Benitez, son of Bacolod City’s Mayor Albee Benitez.
The disclosure was made by Gov. Bong Lacson on Monday, July 17.
Lacson said the Macau trip scheduled on July 24 right after President Bongbong Marcos’ State of the Nation Address (SONA) is of the Association of Chief Executives (ACE)-Negros.
Javi is the incumbent ACE-Negros president.
The purpose: Basically, bonding, the governor said.
“The sponsor,” he added, is “either ACE or Mayor Albee.”
Now, the issue: Why did Gov. Bong Lacson said, “Pass lang ko anay” – an indirect refusal to the invite.
Pressed for reason(s), the governor said, “You know, every time I travel, I ask permission from the DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government).”
This year, he said, he already had three travels abroad.
“So, huya man ko sagi pakita sa DILG,” the governor told the media.
BONDING FOR WHAT?
Coffee shops in Bacolod are now abuzz with the Macau trip. The question on everyone’s mind: Bonding for what?
“Wild political speculations” followed.
Is it true that Javi will run for governor?
Was the invite to the governor a sort of pa-kunswelo?
Javi could not be reached for comment as of this writing.
INTERESTING, INTRIGUING
I asked some Negros mayors, and three signified they’re not joining the Macau trip. Two were undecided.
They said they knew “the very purpose” but refused to divulge it.
It’s getting interesting and intriguing.
Question: Is the Bong-Javi tiff for governor a go?
If it’s a go, it’ll be a “battle royale”.
The fight may be billed: “Tisoy (Bong) versus Pogi (Javi)”.
Several times, Javi denied the rumor. He stressed he has a lot to do for Victorias City.
But stories in the field are different. One mayor said there’s someone acting as “emissary” for the “Javi for Governor” Movement.
Others say, “It’s too early!”
Javi is a member of Love Negros, a local political party headed by his dad and Gov. Lacson. It has 17 mayors.
Its counterpart-slash-rival-turned-ally is United Negros Alliance (UNegA) under NegOcc.’s 2nd District Rep. Alfredo “Thirdy” Mara?on III and Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer. UNegA has 14 mayors.
Previously, there was a “political marriage” between Love Negros and UNegA for governor and vice governor positions in the 2022 election.
WHAT’S GOING ON?
Of course, no one will admit to anything as early as now. But Negrenses are “smart”. They understand what’s going on.
Some are wondering why the name of Mayor Albee cropped up as sponsor of the Macau trip.
Is the trip (really) for Javi? Or for Mayor Albee’s KNP (Kilusang ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino)?
KNP is Albee’s newly-founded political party, which is waiting accreditation at the Commission on Elections.
Question: Why is Mayor Albee “so busy” about this KNP? Will he run for senator in 2025?
‘CHEESE OFF’
There’s another school of thought. The upcoming “Hello, Macau!” is designed to “cheese off” the governor.
Two political gurus in the province said, “Yes!”
There must be a ‘grand showdown’ soon, and, they said, “it’ll be tricky.”
And if this happens, it could be Love Negros versus Love Negros for governor in 2025.
Questions:
* What will happen to UNegA?
* Will it field someone from their group for governor, too?
* Or will it simply choose between Governor Lacson or Javi?
Ooh, ooh, ah, ah!
Now, enter the Arroyos.
Is former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo or her son, Mikey Arroyo, also running for governor in the province? They’re Isabela town natives in central Negros.
Hence, the sixty-four-dollar question: Is there an August Surprise?
Abangan!/PN