It’s a switch.
Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez is running for congressman and Rep. Greg Gasataya is going for mayor of Bacolod City in the 2025 polls under the Team Asenso ticket.
Running for vice mayor under Team Asenso is Councilor Kalaw Puentevella, the son of former Bacolod mayor Monico Puentevella.
Benitez filed his COC today as an independent for congressman of Bacolod.
It will be a second battle for Benitez and former Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia (NP), who earlier filed his COC to also run for congressman of Bacolod.
Benitez, who defeated Leonardia by a wide margin in the 2022 mayoral race, said “I was prepared last 2022, I am now more prepared for 2025”.
Benitez said he is hoping for a Team Asenso sweep in the 2025 polls.
The Team Asenso candidates for councilor are incumbents Em Ang, Al Espino, Celia Flor, Vladi Gonzalez, Israel Salanga, Thaddy Sayson, Pao Sy and Jason Villarosa.
Joining them are former councilors Homer Bais, Caesar Distrito, Dindo Ramos and Bobby Rojas.
Benitez said he decided to run for congressman in the best interest of Bacolod. As congressman he can tap more resources and projects from the national government to bring more development to Bacolod in the quest to make it a super city, he said.
He believes that Gasataya can be trusted and has the capability to act as mayor in his behalf as if he never left, Benitez said.
He believes that the seeds of development and change that he started will be continued by Gasataya, without any doubt, Benitez said.
“The continuity of what I have done will be the priority of this team,” he said.
“Looking forward this is a win-win situation for Bacolod,” he said.
On his ally Rep. Stephen Paduano (Abang Lingkod Partylist) who has chosen to support Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran for mayor, Benitez said he is supporting Gasataya who was with them when Team Asenso started in 2022.
Benitez said he and Paduano “probably have a difference on their selection of whom to trust but I think it would not deter our commitment to continue the changes that I have started.”
Benitez said he chose Puentevella to be their vice mayor “because I always believe in giving people chances…I saw in Councilor Kalaw the qualities and the background to bring Team Asenso forward”.
As a consensus leader he listened to everyone and from their “Kalaw was the best choice”, he said.*