A former city councilor, four barangay captains and a businessman are among six candidates vying for two slots in the Asenso Bacolod councilors’ slate for the 2025 polls.
About 27,208 Asenso Bacolod leaders will vote for the two to run for councilor in a party convention to be held simultaneously in the 61 barangays of Bacolod on Sunday, Sept. 15.
Included in the official list of candidates for the two slots are former Bacolod councilor Homer Bais, Vista Alegre Barangay Captain Jose Maria Leandro Norberto De Leon, Brgy 26 Captain Jhun Marby Orola, Brgy 40 Captain Elmer Villanueva, Brgy 36 Captain Teodoro Yulo and businessman Rico Ferdinand Villafuerte who ran as an independent in the past.
There are twelve city council seats. Councilors Cindy Rojas and Renecito Novero are on their third and last terms, leaving two vacancies to be filled.
The ten other councilors who are running for reelection under the Asenso Bacolod ticket are Jude Thaddeus Sayson, Israel Salanga, Em Ang, Al Victor Espino, Vladimir Gonzalez, Jason Villarosa, Claudio Jesus Puentevella, Simplicia Z. Distrito, Celia Flor and Psyche Marie Sy.
The mayor still would not say who the Asenso Bacolod candidates for vice mayor, mayor and representative would be.
He also would not say what position he will be running for, pointing out that he still has five options.
His spokesman Caesar Distrito said the five options are to seek reelection as mayor, run for senator, switch posts with Rep. Greg Gasataya, accept the offer to become a Cabinet secretary or to take a rest from politics.
Benitez said as of now he has not received any formal offer for the secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government post.
“I was asked by the president what my plans are, I will leave it at that,” Benitez said.*