A DAILY STAR source said that, at a top level UNA meeting held at Nature’s Village Resort in Talisay City yesterday noon, the consensus was that Marañon would run for governor under the local coalition composed of members of the Lakas-KAMPI-CMD, Nationalist People’s Coalition and other national parties.

However, Marañon, when reached by the DAILY STAR, refused to comment on the UNA consensus, saying that Gov. Isidro Zayco has been designated their official spokesman.

“If I run for mayor of Kabankalan, which I am inclined to, the consensus is Mayor Marañon is available to run for governor of Negros Occidental,” was all Zayco would say last night.

A source at the meeting said Kabankalan Mayor Pedro Zayco was suggested to run as the vice governor of Marañon.

Gov. Zayco said there is nothing final about that, he would have to talk to his brother to see if he will agree to it.

Present at the top level UNA meeting, aside from Marañon and Zayco, were Representatives Alfredo Marañon III (2nd District), Jose Carlos Lacson (3rd District), Jeffrey Ferrer (4th District), Ignacio Arroyo Jr. (5th District) and Genaro Alvarez (6th District).

Zayco refused to comment on the consensus for the UNA line up for congressmen.

Not at the meeting was Rep. Julio Ledesma IV, but the DAILY STAR source said he sent word through Rep. Alvarez that he will be seeking re-election as congressman of the first district.

Marañon III, Ferrer and Arroyo are all seeking reelection, while businessman Albee Benitez will be the UNA third district congressional candidate, with Lacson on his third and last term now, the source said.

Alvarez, on the other hand, told the group he is fielding his lawyer daughter, Merceditas, in his place for the sixth congressional seat, the source said.

The source said the UNA members shelved discussion for now on how they will deal with the campaigns of the presidential and senatorial bets of the different political parties they belong to.

BY CARLA GOMEZ