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The province’s politicians find themselves seeking the same positions under different parties allied with the administration Partido Federal ng Pilipinas
BACOLOD, Philippines – Political allies of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his cousin Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez are headed for a collision in the 2025 elections in Negros Occidental, with the rivals seeking the same positions under different parties allied with the administration Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP).
One of the looming clashes is between Negros Occidental Representative Emilio Bernardino “Dino” Yulo III and Provincial Board Member Anthony Dennis Occeño who has filed his certificate of candidacy in a bid to unseat the reelectionist congressman.
Occeño is the provincial chairman of PFP, Marcos’ political party, while Yulo is running under the Romualdez-led Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD).
Occeño told Rappler on Thursday, October 17, that there were ongoing talks among coalition leaders in Manila to address the problem, which has caused friction among groups allied with the Marcos Jr. administration in Negros Occidental.
He said Yulo’s affiliation with Lakas-CMD was finalized just two days before the filing of COCs began on October 1. By the time Yulo joined, the steering committee had already finalized the candidates, Occeño said.
In Silay City, Negros Occidental, another clash is brewing between PFP’s Mayor Joedith Gallego and former mayor Mark Golez of Lakas-CMD.
Occeño said the Gallego-Golez standoff also caused headaches for both the PFP and Lakas-CMD leaderships in the province.
Similar tensions are arising in La Castellana town, where Lakas-CMD’s Councilor Añejo Nicor will contest PFP’s Councilor Ryan Canoy for the mayoral seat.
Bacolod City presents an equally intense race for the mayorship, with a looming showdown between outgoing Representative Greg Gasataya of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) and Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran of Lakas-CMD.
Like Lakas-CMD, NPC, a party founded by the late ambassador Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr., is allied with the ruling PFP.
Another high-stakes race is unfolding in Negros Occidental’s 4th District between allies of the Marcos Jr. administration. In the district’s congressional race, Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer of the National Unity Party (NUP) is facing off with former Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development assistant secretary Lea Delfinado of NPC.
Ferrer aims to succeed his congresswoman wife Juliet Marie, who is serving her third and final office term.
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson of the NPC has thrown his support for Ferrer, despite Delfinado being backed by the Cojuangcos, whose patriarch Eduardo Jr., founded the party.
Kabankalan City adds to the tension, with PFP’s Mayor Benjie Miranda, a reelectionist, up against former mayor and NPC provincial chairman Isidro Zayco, and independent candidate Genaro Alvarez.
In Moises Padilla, a battle for the mayoral seat looms between NUP Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo and PFP’s Vice Mayor Adrian Villaflor.
As party talks continue in Manila, Occeño said he was hopeful for a resolution. – Rappler.com
