Former Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for Bacolod congressman before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Monday afternoon after attending mass at the San Sebastian Cathedral that was packed with his supporters who were clad in red.
His cheering supporters blew horns and shouted “Bring back Bing” as he exited the Cathedral with his wife, Elsa, and daughter Kara.Leonardia, 72, made a brief stop at the Bacolod Public Plaza bandstand to thank his supporters for their continued support for him before proceeding to file his COC before the Commission on Elections.
The former six-term mayor and one-term congressman of Bacolod is running under the Nacionalista Party.
Leonardia said decided to run for congressman because “I feel it’s about time for me to move to the next level…I want to widen my horizons and serve the people on a different level.”
During his watch he made Bacolod City the most competitive city in the Visayas, he said, so he has nothing more to prove as city mayor.
He is running as a lone candidate without aspirants for mayor, vice mayor and councilors on his ticket, which has its own advantages, Leonardia said.
He noted that the Cathedral was filled with his supporters whom he called the “sources of my inspiration” and all weather friends in good times and bad times who keep him going.
Asked if Vice President Sara Duterte is behind his candidacy, Leonardia said they are friends but they have not sat down and talked about his plans yet.
He is determined to run for congressman even if he has to do it by himself, Leonardia said.
Leonardia said he was wearing green that was his original campaign color when he first became mayor.
Leonardia was defeated by Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez in the May 9, 2022 elections who won by 171,893 votes, against his 107,447 votes.
The two may battle against each other again for congressman in the 2025 polls.
Benitez is 90 percent inclined to run for congressman of Bacolod, his spokesman Caesar Distrito said Monday night.
“Mayor Albee respects his (Leonardia’s) right to run, this a free and democratic country,” Distrito said.
If Benitez runs for congressman, presumably his candidate for mayor will be Rep. Greg Gasataya based on his previous statement that they could switch posts, Distrito said.*