No Benitez-Gasataya 2025 showdown

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – An ally of both Bacolod City mayor Alfredo Benitez and lone district Rep. Greg Gasataya said there will be no showdown between the two in the 2025 mayoralty election.

Atty. Caesar Distrito (who lost as the vice-mayoralty candidate of Benitez in the 2022 election and a partymate of Gasataya in the defunct Grupo Progreso) issued the statement during the “pagsalubong” for Benitez’s 57th birthday on December 20, 2023.

Benitez, Gasataya and Distrito ran under the Grupo Asenso party in the 2022 elections.

The purported showdown came to fore after Gasataya was not seen in the signing of the pledge for unity and change during the launch of the Asenso Movement at the Paglaum Sports Complex during the weekend spearheaded by Benitez.

Gasataya, who was seen earlier in the said gathering of Benitez’ supporters estimated at 40,000, was reported to have “walked out” before the signing of the pledge for unity and change.

But Benitez denied any rift with Gasataya in a press conference.

The mayor said Gasataya was at the gathering of political leaders during the Asenso night at the Paglaum Sports Complex.

Gasataya also denied rumors that all is not well between him and the mayor.

He also said that he and the mayor are “talking regularly.”

Gasataya also pointed out that he left the Asenso gathering after the mayor finished his speech to attend to other important matters.

He also told the media during a fellowship night Tuesday that he was not informed that there is such a signing of pledge for unity and change.

Both were seen together at the “pagsalubong” for the mayor’s 57th birthday organized by city government department heads at the New Government Center Tuesday.

Gasataya is on his last term as lawmaker while Benitez is on his first term as mayor of this city.