Mayor Evelio Leonardia and his Grupo Progreso on Friday, November 26, tagged the declaration of neutrality of their former ally, Rep. Greg Gasataya, as a sham and a political deception, saying that the solon’s actions in the past weeks indicate he is clearly with the rival camp.
At a press conference at the Forest Park in Barangay Taculing, Leonardia said the decision to officially cut ties with Gasataya was the consensus of the group in a meeting held shortly before they went public about their position, a press release from his office disclosed.
The press release said Leonardia and GP were declaring “war” against Gasataya.
Gasataya, when asked for his comment, said he would do so after he has heard what the mayor said in his press conference.
Some councilors and barangay captains, who refused to be named, reportedly did not support the GP move against Gasataya.
Leonardia said Gasataya’s own actions were enough reasons to make them believe that he had already abandoned the GP.
“This is the time to make a decision and make our stand very clear. This is about the so-called neutrality of Cong. Greg Gasataya. Before, we believed in his neutrality until lately, his actions, billboards and visits to the barangays are conclusive that he is not neutral,” Leonardia said.
His earlier declaration of neutrality is a sham, Leonardia said. “It has been proven that it is not real. It is political deception,” the mayor claimed.
Gasataya’s actions on the ground are getting very clear that even loyal GP supporters and the Bacolodnons in general are getting confused because of his earlier pronouncements he will stay neutral, Leonardia said.
With the recent political development, Leonardia indicated that GP is now open to new political alliances.
He minced no words when pressed if the GP, consequently, will support the congressional bid of Danny Atayde against Gasataya, the press release said.
“We are open to new alliances. We are open to everybody,” he replied.
Asked whether their move would mean that Gasataya is no longer a GP member, Leonardia said that should that happen it is because he (Gasataya) caused it by his actions.
Bacolod vice mayoral candidate Caesar Distrito in a Facebook post Friday night said “from the very start, Cong. Greg Gasataya I think was very clear and vocal that he will be neutral in the mayoralty position.”
Their Team Asenso Bacolod mayoral candidate Albee Benitez was also very clear when he explicitly declared that he will vote for Gasataya even if he is in the other camp or stays neutral, Distrito said.
Distrito noted that Gasataya brought tremendous development to Bacolod City, including the much needed establishment and construction of the Bacolod General Hospital.
“Anyway, whether they will support Cong Greg or not, the overwhelming majority of the barangay captains, kagawads and political leaders will be supporting him. Also, surveys show that the general public are overwhelmingly supporting him and his lead is unprecedented,” Distrito said.
“So my stand on this issue is also the same as what my mayoralty candidate, Albee Benitez, had took from day one. I will vote for Greg, whether he joins us, or not, and whether he will support me as vice mayor or not. I will vote for him because of his competence, character and performance,” Distrito added.*