Bacolod officials to hold inauguration today

THE newly elected officials of Bacolod City will hold its inauguration ceremony today at the Bacolod Government Center at 5:30 p.m.

The ceremony will be attended by the three highest-ranking Senate officials as well as the three top diplomats in the country.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III will swear in re-elected Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Senate Majority Floor Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri will swear in reelected Bacolod Representative Greg Gasataya, while Minority Floor Leader Franklin Drilon will swear in re-elected Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran.

The three top Bacolod officials all belong to Grupo Progreso.

Of the 12 winning councilors, 11 are also from Grupo Progreso: Cindy Rojas, Renecito Novero, Simplicia Distrito, Carlos Jose Lopez, Al Victor Espino, Archie Baribar, Israel Salanga, Dindo Ramos, Bartolome Orola, Ana Marie Palermo, and Elmer Sy.

The 12th councilor is Wilson Gamboa Jr. from the AAB-MKK.

Leonardia earlier said that Russia Ambassador Igor Khovaev, South Korea Ambassador Dong-man Han, and US Embassy Political Section - Internal Political Unit chief Joshua Morris have all confirmed their attendance at the inaugural.

The three top officials won by a big margin over their respective opponents. Leonardia garnered 144,776 votes or a lead of 63,528 votes over former councilor Jocelle Batapasigue with only 81,248 votes.

Familiaran had 126,238 votes or a lead of 34,417 over former vice mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson with only 91,821 votes. Gasataya had 135,346 votes or a lead of 50,641 votes over former congressman Monico Puentevella with only 84,705 votes.

This is now Leonardia’s sixth term as mayor. He has already been considered the longest-serving mayor of Bacolod even on his third term.