BACOLOD City Councilor Ana Marie Palermo confirmed she will join the Grupo Progreso for 2019 elections.
Palermo, a member of Magbinuligay Kita sa Kauswagan (MKK), said that it would be her third term next year and she will support the group of Mayor Evelio Leonardia.
She said in 2016, she ran under the political group of MKK led by former mayor Monico Puentevella.
Palermo recalled she joined the City Government in 1995 as the City Legal Officer of Leonardia.
“I’m thankful that in next year’s elections, I will be in the group of Mayor Bing, which would be my last term,” Palermo said.
She said she is also thankful to the group of MKK who supported her in previous elections.
Palermo noted that she served as a councilor during the terms of Leonardia, former mayors Oscar Verdeflor, Luzviminda Valdez and Puentevella.
For his part, Leonardia said they will make an official declaration on their line-up on the most appropriate time particularly now that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) moved the deadline of the filing of the certificate of candidacy (COC) which will be on October 11 to 17 from October 1 to 5.
“As of now, we have invited people who are not with us before and we welcome them including Palermo. There are also other village chiefs and councilmen who expressed their desire to join us,” Leonardia said.
Congressman Greg Gasataya had earlier said some members of MKK might join the Grupo Progreso for 2019 elections.
Puentevella had earlier confirmed that their local political group will return for 2019 elections and it’s expected that some of their members will transfer to other political groups, and they will announce their complete line-up soon.