Bacolod, Negros Occidental Officials Take Oath Today

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY – Newly elected officials of Bacolod City and Negros Occidental will take their oath of office today, Saturday, June 28, 2025.

Set to take their oath as Bacolod City officials are Mayor Greg Gasataya, Rep. Alfredo “Albee” Benitez, Vice Mayor Kalaw Puentevella, and Councilors Caesar Distrito, Israel Salanga, Thaddy Sayson, Celia Flor, Bobby Rojas, Jason Villarosa, Homer Bais, Jun Gamboa, Em Ang, Pao Sy, Dindo Rojas, and Al Victor Espino.

Gasataya, whose term as Bacolod’s congressional representative ends on June 30, defeated Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran in the May 12 midterm elections.

Benitez, running in tandem with Gasataya, reclaimed the city’s lone congressional seat by defeating former Mayor Evelio Leonardia.

Puentevella, son of former Mayor Monico Puentevella, won the vice mayoralty race over Councilor Renecito Novero.

Among the winning councilors, only Jun Gamboa came from the opposition, displacing incumbent Councilor Vladi Gonzales, who was seeking a second term.

In Negros Occidental, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson will take his oath for his third and final term, alongside Vice Governor-elect Jose Benito Alonso and newly elected members of the Provincial Board.

On Monday, June 30, newly elected officials of the 5th District, led by reelected Rep. Dino Yulo, will hold a mass oath-taking at the municipal gym in Moises Padilla town.

Yulo defeated Provincial Board Member Anton Occione, who challenged his incumbency.

Also taking their oaths with Yulo are the elected mayors, vice mayors, and councilors of the localities under the 5th District.

In Moises Padilla, Mayor Ella Garcia-Yulo secured her third and final term, while her husband Pimpoy Yulo won the vice mayoralty race against Councilor Beauty Nazareno.

It was a landslide win for the Yulo family and their allied councilor candidates.

In La Castellana, siblings Mayor Alme Rhummyla Nicor-Mangilimutan and Añejo Nicor swapped roles, with Añejo winning as mayor and Mangilimutan as vice mayor.

In Hinigaran, husband and wife Nadie and Grace Arceo also switched positions, with Nadie elected vice mayor and Grace as mayor.

In Isabela, Miguel Yulo, son of Rep. Dino Yulo, won the mayoralty post over Vice Mayor Juan Miguel Montilla.

Former Provincial Board Member Renato Malabor Jr. defeated outgoing Mayor Irene Montilla, who swapped roles with her son in the May 12 elections.

In Himamaylan City, Mayor Raymond Tongson and Vice Mayor Justin Gatuslao won their third and final terms despite parting ways politically after previously running as a team in 2019 and 2022.

In Binalbagan, returning Mayor Manuel Aranda defeated reelectionist Mayor Alejandro Mirasol.

Mirasol’s wife, Mary Ann, however, retained her seat as councilor for a second term.

Also on June 30, elected officials of Talisay City will take their oaths, led by the city’s first woman mayor, Atty. Rowena Lopez Lizares.