Leonardia retakes Bacolod City Hall

CEBU, Philippines - Bacolod lone district Representative Evelio Leonardia has reclaimed the Bacolod City Hall after he was elected city mayor with 120,231 votes or a lead of 22,238 votes over his rival, re-electionist Mayor Monico Puentevella.

Leonardia was a three-term mayor of Bacolod (2004 to 2013) before he was elected congressman.

Leonardia’s Grupo Progreso (GP) party also made a landslide win by clinching the positions for congressman, vice mayor, and eight of the 12 councilors, yielding only four seats to Puentevella’s Magbinuligay Kita Kapamilya (MKK) in the City Council.

GP’s Vice Mayor Greg Gasataya also won as congressman with 85,467 votes against MKK’s Jude Thaddeus Sayson with 84,431 votes.

GP’s Councilor El Cid Familiaran meanwhile won as city vice mayor, with 108,360 votes  against MKK’s bet Vladimir Gonzalez who got 86,611 votes.

For the City Council, GP candidates (unless noted with a party name) dominated the 12 seats at stake: Ricardo Tan landed the No. 1 spot, with 118,927 votes; followed by Caesar Distrito (115,161); Cindy Rojas (110,054); Renecito Novero (109,156); Em Ang (107,807); Elmer Sy (101,423); MKK’s Ana Marie Palero (99,003); MKK’s Wilson Gamboa Jr (97,660); Dindo Ramos (96,665); Bartolome Orola (95,328); MKK’s Claudio Puentevella (94,677); and MKK’s Sonya Verdeflor (93,170).

Comelec-Bacolod City officer Mavil Sia, chair of the City Board of Canvassers, proclaimed all the winners yesterday morning. The total turnout of voters was 235,641 out of 274,541 registered voters in this city. —(FREEMAN)