Leonardia confirms meeting for 2019 elections line-up

BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia confirmed Monday, August 20 that the Grupo Progreso (GP) started discussing their line-up for the 2019 elections.

Leonardia said he had a meeting with Congressman Greg Gasatayaya, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, Councilors Caesar Distrito, Em Ang, Cindy Rojas, Dindo Ramos, Bartolome Orola, Renecito Novero, Elmer Sy, and former councilor Roberto Rojas in a hotel in Bacolod on August 18.

“For the 2019 elections, we discussed it that but not final yet. We explore, evaluate, assess and that is an ongoing process. Something that goes on and on,” Leonardia said.

Ang and Distrito are on their third and final terms. Leonardia said they are going to “fill in the blanks.”

Familiaran also said that after his consultations with his family and close friends, he is not running away and he is ready for 2019 elections, while Rojas said she agreed with her husband that she will continue what she had been started in the City Government.

Gasataya said that nothing’s final and they are prepared for 2019 elections.

GP is also open to Councilors Sonya Verdeflor and Ana Marie Palermo.

The mayor recalled that in the 2016 elections, they were 15 in the group. Of the 15, 14 are still in a group except for Councilor Ricardo Tan.

Meanwhile, Councilor Ricardo Tan had earlier announced that he is considering to run for mayor in the 2019 elections. He also hit Leonardia for the travel of Familiaran and the six councilors in Long Beach, California.

Leonardia also hit Tan, “I don’t think there has ever been a councilor in the history of Bacolod who depends on ‘kodigos,’” he said.