• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Some members of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) and Partido Federal ng Pilipino have bolted to other political parties, as Day 1 of the filing of Certificates of Candidacy for candidates for the 2025 midterm elections, started on Tuesday, October 1.
Bago City Mayor Nicholas Yulo yesterday confirmed that he and Vice Mayor Ramon “Monet” Torres resigned from the NPC, after the political party they were affiliated with for more than two decades fielded a candidate to challenge Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer in the 4th congressional race.
The NPC fielded Engr. Lea Delfinado, a former regional director of the Department of Public Works and Highways in Western Visayas, as its candidate for the 4th district congressional post.
Yulo and Torres, who have been affiliated with the NPC, for 20 and 33 years, respectively, moved to the National Unity Party, in respect to their alliance with Ferrer, which began in previous elections.
Aside from being a member of NUP, Ferrer also serves as president of the political group United Negros Alliance, which coalesced with Love Negros during the 2019 elections.
There is supposed to be an alliance between NUP, NPC, and other national political parties, yet they decided to field and gave a Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance to the opponent of Vice Gov. Ferrer, Yulo said.
Other NPC members in Negros Occidental are Representatives Mercedes Alvarez and Gerardo Valmayor Jr., along with Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and several mayors.
The UNegA and Love Negros coalition earlier gave their full support to the congressional bid of Ferrer in the 4th district of Negros Occidental.
Meanwhile, former Silay City Mayor Mark Golez and his running mate, Councilor Ryan Gamboa, who recently took their oaths as PFP members, joined the Lakas-CMD of Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
Golez is challenging incumbent Mayor Joedith Gallego in the Silay City mayoral race in next year’s polls.
Before transferring to Lakas-CMD, Golez said they sought the permission of former Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez and his nephew, 3rd district congressional aspirant, Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez.
Golez said he believes that Lakas-CMD is well suited for his vision and mission for Silay City.
On the other hand, Yulo, who is in his last term as mayor of Bago City, yesterday filed his COC for the position of board member, representing the 4th district of the province, in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Occidental.
He was joined by Paula Alonso Valderrama, daughter of vice gubernatorial candidate Board Member Jose Benito Alonso, who also filed her COC for board member of the district.*
