Lawmaker insists he is neutral on Bacolod mayoral race

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Lone district Rep Greg Gasataya stood firm on being neutral between incumbent Mayor Evelio Leonardia and former 3rd district congressman Alfredo Benitez who are set for a one-on-one fight for the mayoralty post of this city in the May 2022 elections.

Gasataya, who is running for 3rd term as congressional representative of this city, earlier declared he will be neutral as both Benitez and Leonardia are his wedding godfathers and at the same time political allies and friends

But in a press conference last week, Leonardia, head of Grupo Progreso of which Gasataya is also a part of, cited reports and feedbacks from supporters and members in accusing the congressman of political deception.

Leonardia also claimed Gasataya’s declaration of neutrality is a sham thus the group decided to “drop” the latter as their congressional candidate.

In his Facebook page, Gasataya said “political color coding is too petty for such a hasty conclusion of political deception.”

“I have always been consistent with my position of being neutral between former Congressman Albee Benitez and Mayor Bing Leonardia for reasons I have previously stated among which is my gratefulness to both of them for their invaluable contributions to my personal and political life,” Gasataya further declared.

“This, despite receiving verified information from our political leaders and supporters even before the filing of COCs last October that the persons behind the candidacy of another congressional candidate are the political operators of Mayor Bing within the party.”

He also said that “these personalities who are known to me have orchestrated and have been working tirelessly to promote another congressional candidate, yet they heard nothing from me because of my firm commitment to neutrality.”

Regarding the accusations of political deception and sham thrown against him by Leonardia, Gasataya said “while it is true that I did not express my support in favor of any mayoralty candidate consistent with my position, it does not necessarily follow that I will also have to decline any form of support coming from either party who wishes to do so.”

“For me, political deception is projecting that you honor my neutrality while your key political leaders on the ground are acting otherwise,” Gasataya said.

He also said that “should Mayor Bing and or his proxies endorse another congressional candidate on the basis of these false accusations of political deception against me, then I will be left with no other choice but to deal with it accordingly.”