THE Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) is awaiting the decision of the local members of the party headed by Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia to nominate a candidate that would fill the vacant post of the late councilor Elmer Sy.
Bacolod Lone District Representative Greg Gasataya, who is the district chairman of NPC, said he was able to talk to Former Representative Mark Llando Mendoza of the Fourth District of Batangas and the current Secretary General of their party, about the post left by the deceased councilor.
He said once they have an endorsement from the local NPC members, they will be bringing it to Manila for the approval of the NPC president.
“As of the moment, I have no communication yet from the members of the NPC in Bacolod City as to who will replace the vacant post of Sy,” Gasataya said.
Sy, 65, a member of NPC, who tested positive for coronavirus, died on June 17.
Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran earlier said it is the political party of Sy who will nominate and decide as to who will replace him.
The Bacolod City Council also earlier approved a resolution asking guidance from the legal department of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on how to fill the vacant post of Sy.
Novero, chairperson of the City Council committee on education, said they asked the legal department of the DILG to guide them on how to fill the post of Sy or the proper application of Section 45 of the Local Government Code.
After Sy’s death, Novero said the number 12 councilor, who was Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr., won in the previous election as an independent candidate.
He will now become the number 11 councilor and the number 12 post is now vacant. He said the city should fill the vacant post at the city council. (MAP)