Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer on Friday filed their certificates of candidacy (COCs) for a second term as the province’s top officials.

They joined other reelectionists as well as new and returning aspirants for the provincial board seats and congressional posts on the first day of the filing of COCs before the Commission on Elections’ provincial office that is temporarily located at the Social Hall of the Provincial Capitol here.

“I have officially filed my COC for reelection. The coalition has decided, together with the vice governor and the board members that we will file our COCs today,” Lacson said.

Lacson belongs to the Love Negros party while Ferrer is with the United Negros Alliance, but the two local political parties have formed a coalition to field common candidates in majority of the cities, municipalities, and districts for the May 2022 elections.

“We will continue our obligation and work as vice governor together with Governor Lacson,” Ferrer said after filing his COC with his wife, 4th District Rep. Juliet Ferrer, who is seeking a third and last term.

Among those who filed their COCs were reelectionists 1st District Rep. Gerardo Valmayor and Board Members Rommel Debulgado and Araceli Somosa; 2nd District Board Member Samson Mirhan; 3rd District Board Members Andrew Montelibano and Manuel Frederick Ko; 4th District Board Member Jose Benito Alonso; 5th District Rep. Maria Lourdes Arroyo; and 6th District Board Member Jeffrey Tubola.

Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Mercedes Alvarez also filed her COC for her bid to return as representative of the 6th district.