ACTING Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson clarified Wednesday, they are not pushing Third District Representative Alfredo "Albee" Benitez to make a decision immediately.
They are all waiting for the decision of the lawmaker.
Lacson made the statement when asked about his future political plans as President Rodrigo Duterte has already finished his State of the Nation Address (Sona).
Though he said they will wait after the Sona to make the political decisions, he emphasized that he will wait for Benitez's declaration of his plans for the 2019 elections.
He said that he does not want to preempt the decision of Benitez.
Lacson has already issued a statement that one of his options in 2019 is to run for governor but that would still depend on the decision of Benitez.
Although they both belong to Love Negros, Benitez and him have their respective supporters within the group, he added.
"We have constant communication, that's why Albee and I are still together," Lacson said.
Lacson also said that he and Benitez have been authorized by Love Negros to represent their group in the merger talks with the United Negros Alliance (Unega) and that whatever will be the result of the talks, they will present it to their members and make a common stand about it.
On the part of Unega, Acting Vice Governor Salvador Escalante Jr., the group's secretary-general, said he believes that 80 percent of the incumbent officials will be re-elected based on the election history.
He said there will only be few details that need to settle in the merger talks.
What is important is the agreement that will be reached in the merger that would be acceptable to both groups, he said.
Unega and Love Negros have been formidable opponents in the previous elections in the province.
