BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – Former broadcaster and three-termer solon Greg Gasataya is now officially gunning for the mayoral seat of this highly-urbanized center of more than half a million people in a seat switching arrangement with sitting Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez who has filed his candidacy certificate for the Congressional seat of the Lone District here.
The Albee-Greg tandem effectively nixed rumors of a split between the two who have been described by those close to them to be personal friends and not only political allies who gathered under the Team Asenso alliance in 2022.
The filing today, 8 October 2024, on the last day of the designated period for filing, was saw thousands of Team Asenso supporters who joined their candidates at the plaza here after a holy Mass at the main Roman Catholic church, the St. Sebastian Cathedral.
“I have really large shoes to fill,” Bacolod lone district Cong Greg Gasataya said, adding he feels honored to have been given the trust by Benitez in continuing the latter’s projects, including his vision of turning Bacolod into a supercity.
Gasataya, amid cheers of “Mayor, Mayor” from the crowd, said that “continuity” is important. It is also important, he said, that he and Benitez are one in their vision in making the city great, especially with projects that would propel the Bacolod into a supercity.
Meanwhile, Benitez addressed the crowd of supporters in the Plaza and said he could not think of a better person who can continue his projects and who also shares his vision other than Gasataya.
Benitez, a former solon himself, explained the so-called switch with Gasataya saying he feels that his role as mayor seems “limiting” for him and that he could work as a member of the legislative body better.
Meanwhile, Bacolod City Councilor Al Victor Espino, who is also gunning for another term under the Asenso ticket, described the tandem of Gasataya and Benitez as “perfect”, saying this is a tandem forged by the pandemic.
Espino said there is no better executive that could have done what they did for Bacolod “coming out from a pandemic”.
“I am empowered,” he told DNX, saying that the switch happening between the mayor and the congressmen will be the best for Bacolod in moving forward.
Bacolod Councilor Israel Salanga, who ran under the Grupo Progreso ticket under then Mayor Evelio Leonardia in 2022, explained why is now running as councilor under the Asenso Bacolod ticket.
“This is not about division but unity and the best way to do that is to be unified in our desire to serve,” Salanga said.