DUMAGUETE CITY -- Negros Oriental Governor George Arnaiz is brokering a meeting between his two friends - Dumaguete Mayor Agustin Perdices and Rep. Emilio Macias II to decide once and for all on who between the two childhood friends will run for governor this year.

The meeting was to be held Sunday night, on the eve of the start of the filing of certificates of candidacy for the local and national elections.

Both Perdices and Macias have indicated interest in running for governor, although Perdices can still seek a third term as Dumaguete City Mayor. Macias, on the other hand, has used up his three terms in Congress.

Arnaiz is eyeing the congressional seat that will be vacated by Macias. Arnaiz and Macias both belong to the Nacionalista Party while Perdices has managed to stay out of established political parties, always running under an independent banner called Pundok Kasaligan.

Perdices had gone on record several times as saying he would definitely run for governor against Macias if Arnaiz will agree to remain neutral.

Arnaiz, for his part, said he has also repeatedly said that he is supporting Perdices' candidacy-for city mayor of Dumaguete-even if Macias will field his own candidate. "I am encouraging Tuting to run for a third term as mayor because I want all the programs that he has started to be realized," he said in a recent press conference.

For Perdices, meanwhile, running for governor will not only give him a chance to move up the political ladder, but also a chance to eclipse the political career of his father, the late and well-loved Governor Mariano Perdices.

Bais City Mayor Hector "Tata" Villanueva and Tanjay City Mayor Baltazar Salma have indicated that they are prepared to support Perdices, once he will decide to seek the gubernatorial post.

But after all the positioning, the moment has finally come to make that crucial decision.

"After that meeting, there will be a final decision," Perdices said.

Meanwhile, Councilor Urbano Diga, who is also on his last term as Dumaguete City councilor, said he plans to run for Provincial Board Member under Perdices' party, if the mayor decides to run for Governor. But if the mayor decides to seek a third term as mayor, Diga said he will have to leave local politics and devote his time to his family and his profession.*

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