Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia | Evelio “Bing” Leonardia’s Facebook
BACOLOD CITY––Mayor Evelio Leonardia of this city on Wednesday, March 30, announced he was keeping his options open about who to support for president even though the Nacionalista Party (NP) had announced its support for Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
“What is definite for me is I am all out for vice president Sara Duterte and I will keep my options on the presidency open in the meantime,” said Leonardia.
“I am a new member of the Nacionalista Party. But I believe that our bosses, who are the Villars, are people who will listen,” he added.
Members of his Grupo Progreso will not adopt a collective position on whom to support for president.
“Grupo Progreso has a degree of freedom,” Leonardia said, pointing out that Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran is openly supporting Vice President Leni Robredo’s presidential bid.
Familiaran’s grandmother is a Gerona, and the vice president’s maiden name is Gerona.
Asked if he is meeting with presidential candidate Manny Pacquiao when he arrives in Bacolod on Friday, April 1, the mayor said “I have no control over that.”
When he was told on Tuesday that the application of the Pacquaio camp for the use of the Bacolod Public Plaza on Friday was facing a slowdown, Leonardia told those in charge to rush the granting of a permit for the senator to hold a rally there.
“He is very much welcome here,” the mayor said.
Leonardia’s political nemesis, former Bacolod representative and mayor Monico Puentevella, who is handling the Pacquiao visit, said it has been decided that no rally will be held at the plaza.
Leonardia, who has not opted to support Pacquiao for president, said: “I have a very complicated story, but I consider Manny a very good friend. I have my highest respect for him ever since and until now.”