210 NIR officials now members of PBBMs party

Some 210 officials from the three provinces of the Negros Island Region (NIR) were sworn in as new members of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) by party president and South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. Monday afternoon at L’Fisher Hotel in Bacolod City.

Tamayo said there will be another oath taking at the provincial level before the filing of the Certificates of Candidacy in October and after the elections next year.

He said the oath taking event in Bacolod was “a success” and was supported with the presence of Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, newly appointed TESDA director general Francisco Benitez, and Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez.

“We don’t want to show the number as majority of the officials in NIR have joined the PFP,” he pointed out.

Tamayo said the PFP is now the “super majority in the NIR in terms of local officials who are members of the party.”

He added that Negros Oriental Governor Manuel Sagarbarria and Siquijor Governor Jake Vincent Villa are also members of the PFP.

Gov. Lacson will remain with the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) as it has an existing alliance with the PFP.

In Negros Occidental, the mayos who are PFP members are Victorias City Mayor Javi Benitez, E. B. Magalona Mayor Marvin Malacon, Hinoba-an Mayor Daph Reliquias, Himamaylan City Mayor Raymund Tongson, Murcia Mayor Gerry Rojas and Kabankalan City Mayor Benjie Miranda.

Also joining the PFP was former Silay City Mayor Mark Golez who is eyeing a return to the mayoralty seat next year.* (EYA)