By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD CITY – The speculation surrounding Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez’s decision for the 2025 midterm elections will end today, Tuesday, October 8, 2024, as the last day for filing Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) arrives.
Atty. Caesar Distrito, Benitez’s spokesperson, said on Monday that the mayor will hold a press conference following an 8 a.m. Mass at the San Sebastian Cathedral. Afterward, Benitez will meet with supporters at the public plaza before the Asenso Bacolod candidates file their COCs.
Asenso Bacolod is the political group led by Benitez.
Distrito mentioned, “The lineup is almost complete except for the last councilor slot.” He added that Benitez would finalize the slate on Monday, October 7, 2024.
“All those being considered are winnable and competent, so he wants to take another day to decide,” Distrito added.
Although Benitez is reportedly 90 percent inclined to run for the congressional seat for Bacolod’s lone district, this will only be confirmed by the mayor today, October 8, 2024. This development follows former Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia’s announcement last week that he will run for the same position. Leonardia filed his COC for the congressional seat on October 1, 2024, the first day of COC filing.
Distrito previously shared that Benitez is weighing five options: seeking re-election as mayor, running for a higher office such as senator, running for congressman with incumbent Rep. Greg Gasataya running for mayor, accepting an offer to become a cabinet secretary, or stepping away from politics.
Like Benitez, Rep. Greg Gasataya, who is serving his last term, has yet to confirm whether he will switch roles with Benitez, as the two remain political allies and friends.
Meanwhile, Abang Lingkod Party-list Rep. Stephen Paduano, another Benitez ally, revealed that he has prepared two Certificates of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA) for Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran. According to Paduano, Familiaran will seek a higher position in Bacolod City in the 2025 midterm elections, either as mayor or congressman, but he will not run against Benitez.
“If Benitez runs for congressional representative, Familiaran will run for mayor, and if Benitez seeks re-election, Familiaran will run for congressman,” Paduano explained.
“Definitely, Familiaran will not run against Benitez,” Paduano stressed amid ongoing reports of a possible switch in positions between Benitez and Gasataya.
