Leonardia reclaims Bacolod mayorship
BACOLOD CITY – Rep. Evelio Leonardia will reclaim the city hall after he defeated incumbent Mayor Monico Puentevella in last Monday’s elections.
Garnering 120,231 votes or a lead of 22,238, Leonardia ended what had been described as the “final battle” between him and Puentevella.
Leonardia and Puentevella started their political careers in 1988 when they both ran for the city council.
Leonardia topped the elections, while Puentevella came second. Three years later, they both ran for vice mayor, a race won by Leonardia.
The rivalry went on mainly over the media, as both ran for different posts after that.
Puentevella went for Congress while Leonardia took the city hall.
They met again in 2010, when Puentevella tried to seek the mayoral post after his stint in Congress ended.
In 2013, with Leonardia’s term as mayor ending, Puentevella ran and was elected mayor. Leonardia decided to seek a congressional seat and won.
Last year, in response to public clamor, Leonardia decided to give up his congressional seat to run for mayor.
It was a landside victory for Leonardia’s party, the Nationalist People’s Coalition-Grupo Progreso, which clinched the positions for congressman, vice mayor and eight of the 12 city council seats.
Puentevella’s Pamilya Magbinuligay Kita Kapamilya won only four seats in the city council.