Mayoralty candidate and former Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella led members of his slate in filing their certificates of candidacy yesterday at the Commission on Elections Office in Bacolod City after a 7 a.m. mass also at the Bacolod San Sebastian Cathedral.

Puentevella said their two mystery candidates, a male and female, will file their COC’s either today or tomorrow.

The MKK Team (Magbinuligay Kita sa Kauswagan) dominated by members of the Liberal Party, is composed of vice mayoralty candidate Vladimir Gonzalez of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), and their candidates for councilor, LP chairman emeritus Andy Hagad and city chairman Frank Carbon,

The team is also composed of former councilors Jocelle Batapa-Sigue and Ana Marie Palermo, both LP members; Wilson Gamboa Jr., Bong Dilag of PDP-Laban; May Cueva (non-government organization), mediamen Marlon Solidum and Ray Carmona (LP), and Puentevella’s son, Claude, who represents the youth sector.

Puentevella said that if elected, they will review and repeal the New Tax Code and come up with a better version that will be acceptable to the business sector.

He also claimed that they will be inheriting a P1.4 billion loan from the present administration which they hope to pay in order to restore the good financial position of the city.

Gonzalez said Bacolod will be expecting a government which is predictable, very transparent and one where people can participate.

He envisions that his dreams for Bacolod will be fulfilled because their team is the magic formula, he said.

Asked about their chances against their political opponents who have incumbent candidates, Puentevella said in politics, nothing is impossible. He said the incumbents have a disadvantage because they will have to defend their performance.

If elected, Puentevella said they will hold office at the government center for three days and another two days at the City Hall which is accessible to the people.

Dilag said their campaign will take the high road and that they will not engage in mud-slinging. He also hopes to implement programs that will help educate government employees and barangay officials about good government, if elected.

Carbon and Batapa-Sigue said they hope to help generate more jobs and invite investors, especially in the IT industry, while Palermo, who described herself a lawyer with the heart of a social worker, said she wants to help the poor.

Solidum said he hopes to handle the Committee on Education, being an educator, while Carmona hopes to give the teachers more benefits in order to motivate them.

Gamboa said they also hope to provide education and livelihood for the poor, while Claude Puentevella said he wants to give focus on the youth sector and sports which, he claimed, had been neglected.

Hagad said the LP member have decided to join the team of Puentevella and their party members are professionals, transparent and independent.*CGS

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