It will be Mayor Evelio Leonardia, as chairman of the local Nationalist People's Coalition, who will decide on the candidates they will field in the 2013 elections, acting Bacolod Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson yesterday said.

Sayson said he believes Leonardia will run for a congressional seat since this is last term as mayor of Bacolod, while the party has decided to field him as the mayoralty candidate for 2012.

“As vice mayor, I am open to the idea,” Sayson said.

Bacolod Rep. Anthony Golez, Jr. had earlier said that the NPC will have to honor the equity of the incumbent for the congressional post.

Golez is the vice chairman of the NPC and may seek re-election.

Sayson said that, as far as the NPC party is concerned, the final decision as to whoever will be the NPC candidate for the position, will be the mayor as the party chairman.

He said the national leadership usually refers these problems back to the local NPC leadership.

“As far as we are concerned, it is going to be the mayor who will have the final say,” Sayson said.

He said they do not know if Golez is still a member of the NPC.

Councilor Em Legaspi-Ang said Golez has been going against party decisions, like in the matter of the Local Government Code and the Charter Day anniversary. “As of now we are not sure if he stills considers himself part of the local NPC or Grupo Progreso,” she said.

Sayson said Golez delivered a privilege speech in Congress against the Revised Revenue Code of Bacolod and the Charter Day celebration.

The party will meet and discuss these matters at the proper time, he said.

Candidates planning to run for local posts will have to file their certificates of candidacy before the Commission on Elections in October.*CGS

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