Vice mayoralty aspirants Renecito Novero and Vladimir Gonzalez yesterday said they will pursue their plans to run for vice mayor of Bacolod City in the May 2013 elections.

The name of Novero, a lawyer and a member of the Nationalist People's Coalition, was among those submitted by the group of Mayor Evelio Leonardia to the party for it to decide who will be its vice mayoralty candidate in Bacolod.

However, the national group chose former Councilor Greg Gasataya as the official NPC candidate for Vice Mayor.

Novero said he knew that they (Grupo Progreso) want to choose one from their group candidate, and that is why he wanted them to finalize their slate and have peace within their group.

“It is a given that they will not choose me. I did not present or offer myself to them the same way they did not offer themselves to me,” he said.

Novero, however, said there were people who were facilitating for them to join in one party, although he knew that there was no chance for him to be chosen by their group. “I am just civil to acknowledge the situation that they will not choose me," he said.

But he is thankful that they included him in the list of possible candidates for vice mayor under the NPC party, he added.

Novero said he will meet with his group and decide what will be their final decision. His option might be to run as an independent candidate for vice mayor, he said.

Meanwhile, Gonzalez, who is a businessman, said that Gasataya is a deserving candidate who has proven himself as a councilor.

Gonzalez said he is just awaiting the final endorsement of the group of mayoralty aspirant Monico Puentevella. For now, there is no final decision yet if he will be the vice mayoralty candidate of Puentevella or not, he said.

Gonzalez, when asked about his chances against Novero and Gasataya, said, "Both of them are previous city officials and have an edge over me.” But people will be asking what have they done during their term and why do they want to run again, he said.

As a newcomer, he will present his platform of government and the things he has envisioned for Bacolod, Gonzalez said. He considers his 25 years of experience in the business sector as far as business acumen is concerned, as his advantage against his two contenders, he said.*CGS

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