• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Former Mayor Evelio “Bing” Leonardia announced last night that he will be running for congressman, representing the Bacolod Lone District in the House of Representatives.
Meanwhile, Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, through his spokesman, Atty. Caesar Distrito, also announced that he is 90 percent sure that he is inclined to run as congressman of Bacolod.
Prior to the announcement, there had been speculation that Benitez would run for congressman, switching positions with Greg Gasataya, who is in his last term as congressman of Bacolod City.
In radio interviews, Leonardia, who served three years as a Bacolod City representative and 18 years as City Mayor, disclosed that he will file his Certificate of Candidacy today, October 1, after a 2 p.m. mass at the San Sebastian Cathedral in Bacolod City.
Leonardia was defeated by Benitez in the 2022 Bacolod City mayoral race.
For the 2025 elections, he was issued with a Certificate of Acceptance and Nomination (CONA) by the Nacionalista Party.*
