• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Mayor Joedith Gallego yesterday confirmed that incumbent Vice Mayor Thomas Maynard Ledesma will be his running mate in the May 2025 elections in Silay City, Negros Occidental.
Gallego made the announcement after former Silay City Mayor Mark Golez and incumbent Councilor Ryan were both endorsed for the mayoralty and vice mayoralty positions of Silay City, respectively, by Third District Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez and Abang Lingkod party list Rep. Stephen Joseph Paduano.
Negros Occidental acting Governor Jeffrey Ferrer yesterday said that Love Negros and the United Negros Alliance (UNegA) will support the Golez-Gamboa tandem in next year’s polls.
He added that whoever will be supported by Gov. Eugenio Lacson will also be backed up by the Love Negros and UNegA coalition, citing the alliance of the two political groups.
Golez was defeated by Gallego during the 2022 elections, while his running mate, Ledesma, won the vice mayoral race.
Unfazed by the Golez-Gamboa tandem, Gallego said “it is their right to run, since they are registered voters of Silay.”
Asked for his reaction, Ledesma, who confirmed his resignation from the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino, replied “let the people decide.”
Whether or not he is a member of Team Asenso, Ledesma said he will seek reelection.*
