• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Asenso Bacolod led by Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez will hold a convention while Love Negros will also gather for a general assembly on Sept. 15 in Bacolod City.
During the Asenso Bacolod convention, the 10 councilors under the political group are expected to be named.
Benitez, however, admitted that he has yet to decide on what option he will pursue next.
The mayor’s spokesman, Singcang-Airport village chief Caesar Distrito, earlier said that the mayor has five options, including to seek reelection, run for a higher position as senator, switch posts with incumbent Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya, accept the offer to become a Cabinet member, or take a rest from politics.
Gasataya is now on his third and final term as congressman.
The six applicants vying for two seats for Asenso Bacolod candidates for councilor are former councilor Homer Bais, Jose Ma. Leandro Norberto de Leon, Rico Ferdinand Villafuerte, Elmer Villanueva and Teodoro Yulo.
Meanwhile, Benitez and Asenso Bacolod councilors, and several others from other local government units in Negros Occidental are also taking their oath as members of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) in Metro Manila on Sept. 12.
The oathtaking will be administered either by Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo Jr. or PFP president South Cotabato governor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr.
Meanwhile, candidates of Love Negros in various elected positions are also expected to be known on Sunday.
Benitez said that Love Negros will support the bid of Isidro Zayco for mayor of Kabankalan City as well as that of Mark Andrew Golez for mayor of Silay City, and his runningmate, Councilor Ryan Gamboa.
The Love Negros and United Negros Alliance coalition earlier expressed their full support to the reelection bid of Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson. | GB
