• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Vice Mayor Thomas Maynard Jison Ledesma yesterday admitted that he was invited to join the group of incumbent Silay City Mayor Joedith Gallego, in line with the 2025 midterm elections.
Ledesma was the running mate of former Mayor Mark Golez, who was defeated by Gallego in the Silay mayoralty race in 2022.
Golez and Ledesma are members of Silay Team Asenso, and are affiliated with the PDP Laban, along with seven members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
Despite being a Team Asenso member, Ledesma said he was not invited during the Asenso Silay convention on May 11 in Victorias City.
During the convention, Golez was chosen over Councilor Ryan Gamboa to be the standard bearer of Asenso Silay in the polls to be held May next year.
Asked who will be his mayor in the elections, Ledesma said he cannot decide yet, as of this time. “Everything is possible,” he added.
While there is no invitation from Asenso Silay, Ledesma said he is being invited to join the group of Gallego.
Golez earlier disclosed that he accepted to be the standard bearer of Asenso Silay in the mayoralty race.
Asked if he had considered incumbent Vice Mayor, Ledesma, who was his running mate in the 2022 elections, as a possible running mate, he replied “Why don’t you ask him? Then, you tell me what his answer is, then, I will answer you.”
Also asked if Gamboa is being considered as his running mate, Golez said “all are being considered,” as he stressed that the game now is addition, not subtraction.
Councilor Ryan has his own supporters. He is popular and he can be a big help to the party, Golez said, adding that he will sit down with Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and Third District Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez.*
