By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD CITY – Three political heavyweights filed their Certificates of Candidacy (COC) over the weekend, each vying for congressional seats in their respective districts for the 2025 midterm elections.
Victorias City Mayor Javi Benitez was the first to file Sunday afternoon, accompanied by drumbeaters and cheerleaders. Benitez is running for congressional representative in the third district of Negros Occidental.
His mother, Nikki Lopez Benitez, along with the mayors of the third district and balloon-bearing supporters, were also present. The Social Hall was adorned with enhanced lighting for a photo and video shoot, making Benitez the only candidate thus far to file his COC with such fanfare.
When asked about actress Sue Ramirez, his rumored girlfriend, Benitez said she was busy but fully supportive of his congressional bid.
Benitez stated that if elected, he will continue the legacy of his father, Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Benitez, and his uncle, TESDA Secretary Francisco Benitez, both of whom previously served as third district representatives.
Also filing his candidacy for the congressional seat was former first district lawmaker Jules Ledesma, who was accompanied by his daughter.
When asked why his wife, actress Assunta de Rossi, was not with him, Ledesma explained that she was at home, watching over their 3-year-old daughter and managing their family business.
Ledesma said that if elected, he plans to review the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) Law, which he authored in 2001 during his first term as a congressional representative.
Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer also filed his COC for congressional representative, seeking to replace his wife, Rep. Juliet Marie Ferrer, who is on her final term.
Ferrer pledged to continue his wife’s programs and projects and assured the public that he would remain accessible to the people of the province, just as he had while serving as vice governor.
Ferrer’s opponent for the fourth district congressional seat is former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional director Lea Delfinado, who filed her COC on Saturday.
Delfinado is running under the Nationalist People’s Coalition with the support of the Cojuangco family.
On Saturday, Rep. Alfredo Marañon III also filed his COC, seeking re-election for a second term.
Additionally, on Sunday, Don Salvador Benedicto Mayor Marxlen de la Cruz and re-electionist Araceli Somosa filed their COCs for Provincial Board Member of the first district.
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, who witnessed the COC filing of the three, expressed his support for them.
According to Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria, provincial Commission on Elections (Comelec) supervisor, a total of 104 candidates had filed their COCs as of Sunday. This includes 78 for municipal and city councilors, eight mayors, eight vice mayors, five congressional representatives, and five provincial board members.
