Three-way race shapes up for 2025 Kabankalan mayoralty

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY — A three-way race for the mayoral post in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental in the upcoming 2025 midterm election is taking shape after a provincial board member expressed his intent to run.

Provincial Board Member Valentine Miguel “Macho” Alonso told reporters Tuesday, “I have expressed my intention to run for Kabankalan mayor in the 2025 elections.”

Alonso will face incumbent Mayor Benjie Miranda, who has declared he will seek re-election for a second term, and his uncle, former Kabankalan City Mayor Elpidio Zayco.

While Zayco has not yet made an official declaration, he has been visible in the city and on social media, hinting at his possible candidacy for the 2025 mayoral race.

“That is my direction—to run for Kabankalan mayor,” Alonso said, adding that he has not officially declared his candidacy yet.

He noted that delaying the formal announcement is part of his political strategy.

Alonso explained that declaring his candidacy now would be unnecessary since “everyone knows I will run.”

“It’s useless for me to declare now. I don’t want it in the media; for me, it’s not necessary at this time. It’s political strategy. I have expressed my intention to run for mayor very clearly. I don’t see any reason to clarify further. I will officially declare in October, but my desire to run has been clear from the start,” he added.

Alonso mentioned that he has already informed his uncle, former Mayor Elpidio Zayco, and Vice Mayor Miguel Zayco, also a relative, about his intention to run.

As a member of the United Negros Alliance (UNegA) under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), Alonso acknowledged a potential complication if his uncle receives the party’s endorsement.

In such a case, Alonso stated he would not run under the NPC banner.

However, Alonso dismissed the possibility of forming an alliance with his uncle or stepping down to run as vice mayor.

“But if he runs as my vice mayor, then why not?” he said.

“Everyone at the capitol knows I will run for mayor. I’ve even said goodbye to some of them, telling them this is my last term as a board member because I’m returning to Kabankalan.”

Meanwhile, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson of the Love Negros Team told reporters Tuesday that he will ask Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez, head of the group, to finalize their candidates for the 2025 elections by September.

Lacson stated that all mayoral candidates for their group have been selected, including Atty. Rowena Lizares, wife of Talisay City Mayor Neil Lizares, as their official candidate in Talisay City, where the current mayor is on his last term.

In Silay City, Lacson said former Mayor Mark Golez will be their candidate, after winning in the party’s convention held recently.

Earlier, UNegA President and Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer announced a general assembly next week, where they will officially present their candidates, from the vice gubernatorial position down to the mayor and vice mayoralty posts, for the 2025 polls.

Negros Occidental 2nd District Rep. Alfredo Marañon III serves as UNegA chairman, with Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. as secretary general.

Ferrer noted that except for the 2nd and 4th congressional districts, they do not have candidates in the other districts of Negros Occidental.