Bacolod a free zone for councilor bets

BACOLOD CITY , Philippines — The battle for councilors in this city has been declared a “free zone,” as far as the coalition between the Liberal Party (LP) and the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) is concerned.

“It will be a free zone, we will have Liberal and NPC. That’s the set-up we will have,” according to Senator Franklin Drilon, LP chairman and Team PNoy campaign manager, when asked who will they endorse for councilors of the city in the May 2013 elections.

Drilon made this announcement during the Team PNoy sorties in Negros Occidental last Feb. 22 after endorsing the candidacies of City Mayor Evelio Leonardia for congressman, Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson for mayor, and former Councilor Greg Gasataya for vice mayor—all belonging to the NPC-Grupo Progreso.

At least 12 LP candidates are running for councilors in Bacolod but they belong to the party of former Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella, who is running for mayor against Sayson.

Drilon clarified that the LP-NPC Coalition would not be endorsing any bet for councilor in Bacolod. He said it is only endorsing Leonardia, Sayson and Gasataya while, at the provincial level, Vice Gov. Genaro Alvarez Jr. for governor, former San Carlos City mayor Eugenio Jose Lacson for vice governor and 3rd District Rep. Albee Benitez, LP-Negros Occ. chair, in his re-election bid.

Councilor El Cid Familiaran, who is an LP member running for councilor under Puentevella’s group, said: “I see no problem with the endorsement since there is an alliance between the LP, the Nacionalista Party and the NPC.”

Other LP members running for councilors with Puentevella’s group are incumbent Councilors Sonya Verdeflor, Archie Baribar and Elmer Sy, former councilors Jocelle Batapa-Sigue and Anna Marie Palermo, Mario Gerona, Tony Wong, Edwin Balajadia, Andy Hagad, Frank Carbon and Ray Carmona.

Hagad, LP-Bacolod chairman emeritus, however said the LP could not oblige them to support those endorsed by Drilon because they have their own complete slate. The positions covered by the LP-NP-NPC coalition are only for congressman, governor and senators. He said.

“I have no problem with Drilon’s endorsement with Mayor Leonardia (for congressman) because the post is included in the coalition. He is an official coalition member. But the problem is his endorsement for the mayor and vice mayor because the two posts are not part of the coalition,” Hagad said.

If it is a free zone, therefore the party will no longer take sides. “We have problems with Sayson and Gasataya because they are not part of the coalition anymore,” he said. Hagad and his group has endorsed independent congressional candidate Lyndon Caña, the opponent of Leonardia.

Leonardia has his Grupo Progreso which has a complete slate and in return Leonardia cannot help the LP candidates running for councilors in Bacolod City, Hagad said.

Hagad felt that Drilon was just placed in a compromising situation where he has no choice left but to endorse them, but he considered Drilon’s endorsement to Sayson and Gasataya as the senator’s personal action. “Our logic here is that, if Mayor Bing cannot help us and in fact is campaigning against us, then there is no reason for us to also support his candidacy. This is just being fair,” Hagad added.  (FREEMAN)