Negros Occidental

May 2010 elections watchlist

Source: COMELEC and PNP (As of middle of January 2010)

The Police Regional Office 6 has identified 48 “areas of election concern” in

Western Visayas, including 10 cities and towns in Negros Occidental, due to
intense political rivalries, the presence of armed men, or history of election-related
incidents during the 2004 and 2007 elections.

Cities
Escalante, Sipalay, Himamaylan, Cadiz, Silay, Victorias, Sagay

Towns
Pulupandan, Moises Padilla, Candoni

Classification:

Category 1: Election-related violence in previous elections

Category 2: Presence of armed groups such as CPP-NPA

Escalante – Category 2

This northern Negros city has a history of election-related violence. Vice Mayor
Santiago Barcelona Jr. is seeking to return as mayor against the incumbent Melecio
Yap Jr., who has denied involvement in the supposed political killings in the city.
Barcelona alleged that since the May 2007 elections, 11 of his supporters have
been killed.
Last January 11, both mayoralty candidates signed a peace covenant in rites
facilitated by the Diocese of San Carlos.
Sipalay – Category 2

Mayor Soledad Montilla’s son, incumbent Vice Mayor Oscar Montilla Jr., is
running for mayor against former Marine officer Gary Alejano, one of the
Magdalo soldiers involved in the 2003 Oakwood mutiny

Himamaylan – Category 2

Councilor Agustin Ernesto Bascon is running for mayor against his uncle, Antonio
Gatuslao. His mother outgoing Mayor Carminia Bascon is seeking the vice
mayor’s post.
In June 2007, Carabalan councilman Edgar Coleta was injured during an ambush
by the group of a village head who supported then defeated mayoralty candidate
Alain Gatuslao.

Cadiz – Category 2

Running for mayor is Councilor Patrick Escalante, brother of outgoing Mayor

Salvador Escalante Jr., whose candidacy for 2nd District board member is
unopposed.
During the October 2007 barangay and SK polls, three persons have been arrested
for vote-buying.

Silay – Category 2

In Silay City, cousins Carlo Gamban and Edwin Velez, who are former mayors,
will challenge incumbent Mayor Jose Montelibano. Last month, the COMELEC
Second Division dismissed a petition to disqualify Velez from running filed by
by City Administrator Ignacio Salmingo, who cited a 2006 ruling RTC ruling,
penalizing Velez the perpetual disqualification to hold public office and the
deprivation of the right of suffrage for releasing public funds to cooperatives
during the 1998 campaign period.
Victorias – Category 2

Mayor Severo Palanca and his nephew Vice Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca are
seeking reelection. Severo’s grandson, businessman Alfredo Bantug-Benitez is
running for congressman of the 3rd District. Benitez’s grandmother, former Mayor
Remedios Palanca-Bantug, is Severo’s sister.

Sagay – Category 2

Running for mayor unopposed is Vice Mayor Leo Rafael Cueva, nephew of
outgoing Mayor Alfredo Marañon Jr. who running for governor against Sugar
Regulatory Administration head Rafael Coscolluela, a former governor.
Alfredo Jr.’s son, 2nd District Rep. Alfredo “Thirdy” Marañon III, is seeking
reelection while his nephews Joseph Gerald Marañon and Donato Marañon, are
running for vice mayor and councilor, respectively.

Pulupandan – Category 1

Brothers-in-law Pulupandan, Mayor Magdaleno Peña and Vice Mayor Antonio

Suatengco are seeking reelection.
On May 30, 2007, Peña survived an ambush staged by the NPA but his two
security men were killed and three others were injured. Peña had also blamed
Samson Mondia, his opponent in the mayoralty race then, as mastermind.
Town police chief Joshua Villasis, who has 24 policemen under his watch, has
asked for additional personnel following requests of several candidates, including
Peña, for security men.

Moises Padilla – Category 2

Candoni – Category 2

*report by Nanette Guadalquiver of BusinessWorld in Bacolod