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NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – As the midterm elections approach, Bacolod City’s political landscape has become a tumultuous battlefield, where alliances once forged in friendship have fractured into rivalries, and foes are now becoming allies.
For the mayoral post, it’s a one-on-one contest between term-limited Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran and Bacolod Representative Greg Gasataya, who is serving his third and last office term.
Familiaran was a former member of the local party Monico Kabuhi Ko (MKK) when he was still a councilor in 2013.
OPENING SALVO. Supporters of candidates Representative Greg Gasataya and Mayor Albee Benitez gather for a campaign rally at the Paglaum Sports Complex, Libertad, Bacolod on Friday, March 28, 2025. courtesy of Greg GasatayaAt that time, MKK, led by former congressman and mayor Monico “Newks” Puentevella, was a bitter political rival of Grupo Progreso, led by former mayor Evelio Leonardia and Gasataya. But when Familiaran ran for vice mayor in 2016, he left MKK and joined Grupo Progreso.
He then became a friend and ally of Leonardia and Gasataya.
In 2019, their political alliance proved to be formidable, winning 14 out of the 15 local elected positions, including representative (Gasataya), mayor (Leonardia), vice mayor (Familiaran), and 11 councilors.
At the time, no one imagined Grupo Progreso would be shattered. That changed in 2022 when billionaire gaming mogul Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez entered Bacolod politics.
Benitez, who transferred his residence from Victorias City to Bacolod, ran for mayor, stirring the city’s political landscape and prompting high-profile figures to migrate from Grupo Progreso to Team Asenso.
The first to leave Grupo Progreso was Gasataya, who declared “neutrality” between Leonardia and Benitez, both of whom he called his wedding ninong (godfather).
But when Leonardia adopted businessman Dan Atayde as a guest candidate for congressman under Grupo Progreso, Gasataya eventually joined Benitez’s Team Asenso.
Following Gasataya’s move, incumbent councilors Al Espino, Simple Distrito, and Pao Sy also bolted to Team Asenso.
Leonardia lost to Benitez, who secured a margin of more than 60,000 votes. Gasataya also convincingly defeated Atayde.
Remaining in Grupo Progreso were Familiaran, who won vice mayor, and councilors Em Ang, Israel Salanga, and Renecito Novero.
However, in December 2023, Familiaran, Ang, and Salanga also joined Team Asenso, leaving Novero as the last remaining member of Grupo Progreso.
In an unexpected twist during the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) in October 2024, Benitez chose not to seek a second term. Instead, he endorsed Gasataya to be his successor, leaving Familiaran, his less-than-a-year partymate, in a quandary.
Benitez and Leonardia will face off for the lone congressional seat of Bacolod.
Feeling aggrieved, Familiaran decided to run for mayor, challenging his former ally-turned-nemesis, Gasataya.
Adding to the drama, term-limited Abang Lingkod Party-list Representative Joseph Stephen “Cong Caraps” Paduano, a well-known political operator and ally of Benitez since 2010, openly declared his support for Familiaran’s Team Elcid.
Paduano candidly said that he could no longer stomach joining Team Asenso with Gasataya as their mayor.
As the local campaign heats up, Paduano has voiced his frustration with Benitez, whom he called “Boss Albee” for recently terminating the services of their political supporters working at city hall.
Paduano also pledged to exert efforts to help Familiaran win against Gasataya. He added that he would neither attack nor campaign for Benitez.
Gasataya remains calm, refusing to dignify Paduano’s rant against him. His usual response when pressed by the media: “No comment.”
Benitez, meanwhile, said that Paduano’s accusations were merely his “perception.”
Leonardia, for his part, said his decision to run alone was the wisest move he could make.
“No excess baggage to carry on,” he said.
Although still adopted by Familiaran’s Team El Cid, Leonardia acknowledged that it pains him to see some of the old-timers at the Grupo Progreso, who can’t even say “good morning” to him.
These include councilors Espino, Ang, Salanga, Cindy Rojas, Pao Sy, Simple Distrito, and her son, former councilor-turned-village chief of Singcang-Airport, Caesar Distrito, as well as Liga ng mga Barangay-Bacolod president Lady Gless Gonzales-Pallen. – Rappler.com
