BACOLOD CITY – With the May 12 elections fast approaching, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer enjoined candidates and their supporters to avoid resorting to negative campaigning by deliberately spreading negative information about their opponents before voters.
For me, I don’t believe in negative campaigning, Lacson said, stressing that it has downsides.
“Filipino voters are turned off with the mudslinging and negative campaigning,” said Lacson, who is seeking reelection for a third term as governor of Negros Occidental.
Ferrer, a congressional aspirant in the Negros Occidental 4th district, said he noted that even supporters of candidates are also engaged in negative campaigning, which he also discouraged.
Noting that every election, issues of corruption, among others, surface, Ferrer said that candidates should present their platforms of government, and not just make accusations without evidence or proof.
Should there be, file cases against them, and not wait for the election period, he added.
Lacson also likened the election to a festival where there are lots of noise and gimmicks just to get the support of voters.
“So let’s enjoy it. Never mind the noise. But there should no violence,” the reelectionist-governor further said.
Asked if he is confident for reelection, Lacson said “I’m in a very good position to be able to serve my 3rd and last term as governor.”
As to the call for a debate between gubernatorial bets, Lacson said in their survey, his strongest opponent is known to 45 percent of the Negrenses. But he added that 45 percent does not mean that they will vote for him.
Former Victorias City Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca, the gubernatorial candidate of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino, is among the two candidates challenging Lacson.
As a strategy, why even share a platform with him, Lacson asked, noting also that in almost all places he had visited, he was even asked if he had an opponent.
So, why help them to be known to the public, Lacson said, as he dismissed the call for a debate. (Gilbert Bayoran via tvds)