• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
In Negros Occidental, four reelectionist mayors and three other mayoral bets, as well as five reelectionist vice mayors and three vice mayor candidates will only need one vote to win the 2025 midterm elections.
This is because they are running unopposed in their respective mayoral and vice mayoral races, according to data shared by the Commission of Elections to the local media on Wednesday.
The incumbent mayors running for reelection without an opponent are from San Carlos City – Renato Gustilo, Cadiz City – Salvador Escalante Jr., Pontevedra – Jose Maria Alonso, and Ilog – Paul Alvarez.
Also unopposed are mayoral bets Richard Jaojoco of Toboso, Leo Rafael Cueva of Sagay City and Abelardo Bantug III of Victorias City, as well as reelectionist vice mayors Florendo Dinapo of Calatrava, Maria Luisa dela Cruz of Toboso, Christopher Carmona of San Carlos City, Oscar Montilla of Sipalay City, and Pulupandan Vice Mayor Anthony Gerard Suatengco. Vice mayoral bets John Vincent Escalante – Cadiz City, John Paulo Alvarez – Ilog, and Jugin Jewel Bandolon – Don Salvador Benedicto are running without opponents.
Of the seven political districts in Negros Occidental, only reelectionist Representative Alfredo Marañon III (2nd district), is unopposed, while the board members without opponents are Marxlen dela Cruz and Araceli Somosa of the 1st district, as well as Sixto Pal Guanzon and Arthur Christopher Marañon of the 2nd district.
Comelec records further showed that Kabankalan City has the most mayoral candidates, namely incumbent Mayor Benjie Miranda, Isidro Zayco, Genaro Alvarez Jr., John Cordero, Eliezer Duron Jr., Florelyn Mungaray, and Leo Ocquias.*
