Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia and Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson were officially endorsed as the Nationalist People’s Coalition candidates for congressman and mayor, respectively, in Bacolod City Saturday.

Rep. Henry Cojuangco (Tarlac, 1st District) said “Leonardia is our candidate for congressman and Sayson for mayor.”

His brother, NPC chairman emeritus Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco raised the hands of Leonardia and Sayson during the mass oathtaking ceremony of the NPC at the L”Fisher Hotel in Bacolod City, Saturday.

Bacolod Rep. Anthony Golez was not present at the gathering.

Henry Cojuangco said that in Bacolod, they are still evaluating the list submitted to them for possible vice mayoralty candidate. There were several names submitted and they have to go over it in Manila, he said.

Leonardia said that next week will be the filing of certificates of candidacy, so they will try to finalize everything and come up with a complete slate from congressman, mayor, vice mayor down to the 12 councilors.

He said the incumbent NPC councilors and some former councilors are in the line-up. If other incumbents will decide to join their slate, they will definitely consider that, he added.

Henry Cojuangco said they are working with the Liberal Party, but clarified this is not a coalition but partnership between the NPC and LP.

Leonardia said he expects that the LP leadership in the province and the national will finally make clear to their members what the arrangement will be.

As far as the local slate is concerned, he said he believes it will not take long for them to finalize everything.

Leonardia said the names they have submitted for the vice mayoralty candidate includes those from their group who, they believe, are all competent.

“We have to consider our personal relationship, considering the length of time that we have been together. Maybe our superiors understand the agony that we are in, because, unfortunately, we can only get one candidate for vice mayor,” he said

So they realize it is a difficult decision, and to avoid any possible personal repercussions in their relationship with one another, they have agreed that the national directorate should decide, Leonardia said.

The name of former Vice Mayor Renecito Novero has been included in the long list, he said.

Leonardia said that, hopefully, by Monday they will get an official communication from the NPC national.”Of course we cannot demand because they are not just working on our concerns in Bacolod but they are handling the whole Philippines. But they know there is that urgency, so they will have to make it very soon.”.

Leonardia said another concern is that they have no special instruction from the Nationalista Party at the moment.

But technically, Councilors Caesar Distrito and Carlos Jose Lopez are still NPC’s and they have not yet resolved how the two will file their COC’s, he said.

Leonardia also said they will announce soon when they file their COC’s.*CGS

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