Bacolod City Administrator Rolando Villamor is considered resigned after he filed his certificate of candidacy for congressman at the Commission on Elections Friday, Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella said yesterday.

Puentevella said he will choose a temporary city administrator while he is still searching for a permanent appointee.

Puentevella claimed that he talked to Villamor after he knew about the latter's decision to run as an independent candidate for congressman.

"Nobody can stop anybody's ambition. I do not control my friends and the people around me so I respect his decision,” he said.

Puentevella said he wishes the aspiring candidates good luck in their political careers. He assured his team, Magbinuligay Kita Sa Kauswagan-Partido Bacolod, that he will support them all the way.

He also thanked Councilor Archie Baribar for his contributions to the city council, despite his decision to run for congress in the 2016 national and local elections as an independent candidate.

However, Puentevella said it was Baribar's personal decision to run as congressman despite his having offered him a seat in the MKK Partido Bacolod to complete the 12 seats.

Earlier, Baribar said he has nothing personal against Puentevella and their group. He said he decided to run for congress because he believes this is the time for him to continue what he has started in 2004.

Baribar and Villamor will be running against Vice Mayor Greg Gasataya, Councilor Carlos Jose Lopez and Joel David Enriquez , who are also running for congressman.

Meanwhile, Puentevella said the City of Bacolod had zero-crime rate during this year's MassKara Festival because of the personnel of the Bacolod City Police Office and augmentation forces from the Regional Public Safety Batallion who were deployed on the streets and festival sites for security.

The mayor also thanked the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office and Traffic Management Office for managing the traffic but apologized to the riding public for the inconvenience the festivity brought. He assured that the smooth traffic flow will resume after the celebration.

Puentevella also thanked the Kasadya Bacolod Development Foundation Inc. headed by its festival director Rhoderick Samonte for the success of the festival, as well as the Bacolodnons who participated and supported all the activities of the MassKara Festival.*CGS

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