• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez yesterday announced the nullification of the result of the Asenso Convention held on September 15, which aimed to select two slots for the city councilors under the Asenso Bacolod group.
In a statement he issued through his spokesman, Atty. Caesar Distrito, Benitez noted that many of the barangay captains did not abide by his orders to exercise neutrality in choosing the two slots for city councilors.
Benitez said he will now personally choose two candidates, which notably, would not come from any of the six nominees.
His criteria for selecting the two remaining slots are winnability, loyalty to the party, and the ability to perform the job well.
Vying for the two slots during the convention were former councilor Homer Bais, barangay captains Jhun Marby Orola, Rico Ferdinand Villafuerte, Elmer Villanueva, Teodoro Yulo, and Jose Maria Leandro Norberto De Leon.
Those who led the six nominees were Yulo, who got 10,910 votes, de Leon garnered 9,440, and Bais ranked third with 8,809 votes.
Benitez said he will personally name his choices when he will soon announce the final slate of Asenso Bacolod, including his complete slate, from congressman, mayor, vice mayor and 12 councilors.*