BACOLOD City – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in this city is expecting higher voter turnout for the 2025 midterm elections due to a low number of certificates of candidacy (COC) filed during the October 1 to 8 COC filing.
Comelec-Bacolod records showed that a total of 37 COCs were filed for member of the House of Representatives, mayor, vice mayor, and Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) members.
“The over 30 aspirants who filed their COCs for the 2025 midterm elections is a very small number. We expect to see higher voter turnout in next year’s election,” said Acting Election Officer Revo Sorbito yesterday.
Sorbito said there are five aspirants seeking for a seat in Congress as the city’s lone district representative: Bacolod City’s Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, former Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Roger Tanghal, Eduardo Gulmatico, and Romy Gustilo.
For mayoralty post, the candidates are incumbent Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran and incumbent Cong. Greg Gasataya.
The aspirants for vice mayor are incumbent councilors Renecito Novero and Claudio Jesus Puentevella.
Also, a total of 28 have filed their COCs for councilors: reelectionists Em Ang, Al Victor Espino, Celia Flor, Vladimir Gonzales, Israel Salanga, Thaddy Sayson, Pao Sy, and Jason Villarosa; former councilors Homer Bais, Archie Baribar, Atty. Caesar Distrito, Wilson Gamboa, Ana Marie Palermo, Atty. Dindo Ramos, and Roberto Rojas; and Kenneth Ian Belario, Abem Cañal, Maria Ella Dapiton, Jose Maria Leandro Lacson, Ken Paolo Gilo, Yolanda Noble, Pete Pico ,Lilian Sembrano, Marlon Solidum, Rico Villafuerte, Christian Weber, Ernesto Yap Jr., and Teodoro Yulo.
Meanwhile, the eight-day COC filing in this city was generally peaceful, according to the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO).
Police officers were deployed at the COC filing venue in the Liga ng mga Barangay office on San Juan Street.
Colonel Joeresty Coronica, BCPO director, said the police presence and coordinated efforts contributed to a peaceful and well-organized process, free from any untoward incidents./PN
