• GILBERT P. BAYORAN

Mayor Benjie Miranda, who is seeking re-election as mayor of Kabankalan City, confirmed on Friday that his wife, Divina, will be his running mate in the elections on May next year, under the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, a political party of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“If others can do it, why can’t I?” Miranda asked, stressing that his wife, an English teacher, is qualified.
He noted that there have been precedents of the husband and wife tandem in other localities.
Other local government units that are governed by husband and wife as mayor and vice mayor are Binalbagan, which has Alejandro Mirasol as the mayor, and his wife, Mary Ann as the vice mayor; and Hinigaran, where Jose Nadie Arceo is the chief executive, and his wife, Mary Grace, is vice mayor.
On the other hand, Isidro Zayco remains tightlipped on whether or not he will challenge Miranda in the mayoral race, stressing that it will be known in October, which is the filing of certificate of candidacy for the next year midterm elections.
There are reports that incumbent Vice Mayor Miguel Zayco will be the running mate of former Mayor Zayco.
In the 2022 elections, Miranda defeated incumbent Mayor Pedro Zayco.
“It would make a difference with our tandem, as we belong to one party, and we sleep in one bed at night,” Miranda said, claiming that the majority of the masses in Kabankalan City are with him.
While he is no longer active in politics, Isidro Zayco remains as the provincial chairman of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, with Rep. Mercedes Alvarez and her father, former Rep. Genaro Alvarez, as among its party members in the 6th district of Negros Occidental.
According to Miranda, siblings Isidro and Pedro Zayco have ruled Kabankalan City for more than three decades, and have done their best to develop the city.
It was during the stint of Isidro Zayco that Kabankalan became a city, which was followed by the establishment of the city airport, which is yet to be operational.
“My goal now is to improve the city through innovation and digitalization,” Miranda stressed.*