Seven Mayors Unopposed in Negros Occidental

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY – Seven candidates out of 67 who filed their certificates of candidacy for mayor in their respective localities for the 2025 midterm elections are unopposed.

Records provided to the media by Comelec provincial supervisor Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria showed that four of the unopposed candidates are incumbent mayors seeking reelection.

There are also eight candidates for vice mayor who are running unopposed.

Ananoria said these unopposed candidates need only one vote to win in the 2025 midterm elections.

The incumbent mayors running for reelection without opponents are Renato Gustilo of San Carlos City, Salvador Escalante Jr. of Cadiz City, Jose Maria Alonso of Pontevedra, and Paul Alvarez of Ilog.

Also running unopposed for mayor are Richard Jaojoco of Toboso, Leo Rafael Cueva of Sagay City, and Abelardo Bantug III of Victorias City.

Meanwhile, the vice mayoral candidates running unopposed are Florendo Dinapo of Calatrava, Maria Luisa dela Cruz of Toboso, Christopher Carmona of San Carlos City, Oscar Montilla of Sipalay City, and Pulupandan Vice Mayor Anthony Gerard Suatengco. John Vincent Escalante of Cadiz City, John Paulo Alvarez of Ilog, and Jugin Jewel Bandolon of Don Salvador Benedicto are also unopposed.

There are 61 candidates running for vice mayor across the province of Negros Occidental.

Earlier records from Comelec showed that only reelectionist Representative Alfredo Marañon III (2nd District) is unopposed out of the seven congressional districts in the province.

Unopposed candidates for board member positions include Marxlen dela Cruz and Araceli Somosa of the 1st District, as well as Sixto Pal Guanzon and Arthur Christopher Marañon of the 2nd District.

Meanwhile, Kabankalan City has the most mayoral candidates, with incumbent Mayor Benjie Miranda, Isidro Zayco, Genaro Alvarez Jr., John Cordero, Eliezer Duron Jr., Florelyn Mungaray, and Leo Ocquias all vying for the position.

Ananoria said the filing of certificates of candidacy from October 1 to 8, 2024, was generally peaceful.