• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Rep. Alfredo Marañon III and seven mayors need only one vote to win in the May 12 elections, as they are running unopposed, according to records of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Marañon, son of the late Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr, is seeking his second term as a congressman of the Negros Occidental 2nd district.
Also running unopposed are San Carlos City Mayor Renato Gustilo, Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr., Ilog Mayor Paul Alvarez, Pontevedra Mayor Jose Maria Alonso, Rafael Leo Cueva – Sagay City, Richard Jaojoco – Toboso, and Abelardo Bantug III – Victorias City.
Jaojoco is returning as mayor of Toboso, replacing his wife, Madonnah.
Cueva, the incumbent vice mayor of Sagay City, is switching positions with Sagay City Mayor Narciso “Narwin” Javelosa.
On the other hand, Bantug, the vice mayor of Victorias City, will replace Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez, a congressional aspirant for the Negros Occidental 3rd district.
Unopposed candidates for the vice mayor post are Oscar Montilla – Sipalay City, John Paulo Alvarez – Ilog, Anthony Gerald Suatengco – Pulupandan, John Vincent Escalante – Cadiz City, Jugen Jewel Bandolon – Don Salvador Benedicto, Christopher Paul Carmona – San Carlos City, Florendo Dinapo – Calatrava, and Maria Luisa dela Cruz of Toboso.
Aside from Escalante, Bandolon, and Alvarez, the other unopposed vice mayoral candidates are reelectionists.*
