“I will run as neutral. I am not taking sides,” said Bacolod Congressman Greg Gasataya yesterday in declaring his intention to seek re-election in the 2022 polls.
“Mayor Bing Leonardia and former congressman Albee Benitez are my ‘maninoys’ during my wedding. Both are significant to my personal and political journey,” Gasataya said of the two politicians, who are expected to slug it out in the mayoral race.
He said he decided to “manage himself between two roads.”
Gasataya ran under the Grupo Progreso team of Leonardia in the 2016 and 2019 elections. He said he cannot say if he is still with the GP since the decision lies with the group, especially the mayor.
The solon said he had serious talks with Leonardia and Benitez about his decision to stay neutral because it would be difficult for him to take sides.
He said he made the decision without any condition, and he has no idea if both camps will field a candidate for congressman against him.
“My decision is ultimately premised on the realization of the Bacolod City General Hospital (BCGH) which will start construction next year in the midst of the election season, in the midst of a pandemic,” Gasataya said in a press conference at the Montevista Gymnasium where a distribution of government assistance to sectors affected by the pandemic was also held.
He showed to members of the media the perspective plan of the BCGH, adding that his last term will be dedicated to ensure the construction and completion of the hospital, that has an initial funding of P200 million from the Department of Health.
He said he is banking on the pledges from national officials for additional funds to finish and start the operation of the BCGH.
Gasataya said it is still too early to say who he will support among the local and national candidates. He said he will run under the Nationalist People’s Coalition and will wait for advice from the national leaders on what to do in the local front.
He said he has been serving the people of Bacolod “regardless of color, and I want to continue and maintain it.”
Gasataya also highlighted what he had done for Bacolod, especially on health and education.
He said he prioritized scholarship programs and that thousands of Bacolod youth benefited under his educational assistance program, in partnership with Tesda and the Commission on Higher Education.
Gasataya added he authored a measure that increases the bed capacity of the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital, which means that more people can avail of free hospitalization with services at par with primary private hospitals.
His office provided millions of pesos worth of assistance to different sectors, he added.
Gasataya said he will file his Certificate of Candidacy anytime next week, and has discouraged his supporters to troop to the Comelec office so that health protocols are complied with.
He thanked his family and friends, who supported his programs in his first two terms as the representative of the people in the House. — MML
