Kabankalan mayor asks potential opponent to be consultant

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY – Kabankalan City Mayor Benjie Miranda has asked a probable opponent in the 2025 mayoral election not to run and instead be his consultant.

Miranda confirmed to reporters that he is seeking re-election for a second term as mayor of Kabankalan City.

Miranda said he is asking former Kabankalan City Mayor Isidro Zayco, his godfather, to help him with his programs and projects for the city instead of running against him in the 2025 polls.

Zayco, a former three-term mayor of Kabankalan City and a former governor, has made himself visible in the city and on social media, prompting rumors of his return to politics despite earlier pronouncements of his retirement.

Miranda believes Zayco will run against him in the 2025 mayoralty race.

Zayco remains evasive about his plans for 2025 but has made himself visible in the barangays and conducted outreach programs in rural areas of the city.

Reports suggest that Zayco’s return to politics aims to secure Kabankalan City as the Zaycos’ bailiwick after Miranda halted their decades-long political dominance.

Miranda, a former barangay captain and a member of the IP community, narrowly defeated Zayco’s younger brother Pedro, who was running for a second term, in the 2022 mayoralty race.