• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) has endorsed an initial 21candidates from rival political parties for various posts in Negros Occidental, including the highly-urbanized Bacolod City, for the May 12 elections.
As of May 9, the religious sect’s endorsement in Bacolod includes Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez for the congressional seat, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran for the mayoralty post, and Councilor Kalaw Puentevella for the vice mayoral post.
In E.B. Magalona, mayoral bet Matthew Louis Malacon and his father, incumbent Mayor Marvin Malacon, who is running for vice mayor, thanked the INC for their endorsement.
Mayor Neil Lizares also thanked the INC for endorsing his wife, lawyer Rowena Lopez Lizares, to be the next mayor of Talisay City.
Expressing his appreciation to the INC, Rep. Emilio Bernardino Yulo said: “Your endorsement of my candidacy for reelection as congressman of the fifth district of Negros Occidental is a solemn honor I deeply cherish and a responsibility I vow to uphold with integrity and unwavering commitment to public service.”
Reelectionist Moises Padilla Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo and her husband, Felix Mathias, who is running for vice mayor, also thanked INC for the endorsement.
Other candidates supported by INC in Bacolod City include reelectionists Councilor Celia Flor, Pao Sy, Jason Villarosa, Israel Salanga, Vladimir Gonzales, Jude Thaddeus Sayson, councilor aspirants Caesar Distrito, Em Ang, Homer Bais, Wilson Gamboa Jr., Dindo Ramos and Bobby Rojas. | GB
