Another 'Leonardia' needed to sub mayor's brother

THE Nationalist People's Coalition-Grupo Progreso (NPC-GP) can only field another Leonardia to the City Council post previously held by its member Andres "Andy" Leonardia, who died last Saturday, said an election officer.

Andy, older brother of Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, was found dead inside his house last January 5. He is supposedly running for Bacolod City councilor under the NPC-GP.

But with his death, Bacolod City Commission on Elections (Comelec) registrar Mavil Majarucon-Sia said the local political party can only field a substitute whose surname is also Leonardia, in compliance to Comelec guidelines.

She said the substitute should file his Certificate of Candidacy, including the Certificate of Nomination from the political party, a day before the election day.

Meanwhile, Mayor Leonardia considered his brother as one of the bright boys in the family.

He said he knew Andy as an achiever during his college days, being a student leader and having graduated Cum Laude.

"He is a front runner in the academics and was a member of the debating team of the University of St. La Salle," Mayor Leonardia said.

He said Andy first worked as medical representative and then became manager of the Central Negros Electric Cooperative. He also got a course in the Asian Institute of Management and later became the manager of VMC Rural Electric Service Cooperative Inc.

He is also into business, said the mayor.

He said his brother joined Grupo Progreso as one of the candidates for councilor upon the invitation of Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson.

He said the whole Leonardia family is grieving for Andy's death. (CNC)