"I believe the results of the election is a validation of the performance of our group, and especially of our government center project," reelected Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia said yesterday.

He said this is the first time in so many decades that a party was elected with a very clear majority.

Leonardia, vice mayor-elect Jude Thaddeus Sayson and eight of their councilors under the Grupo Progreso of the Nationalist People's Coalition, were proclaimed winners Saturday by the Commission on Elections. The councilors are Greg Gasataya, Homer Bais, Dindo Ramos, Wilson Gamboa Jr., Napoleon Cordova, Al Victor Espino, Roberto Rojas and Alex Paglumotan.

Note that all those who supported the government center earned very high votes, while the two Lakas candidates, who were against the project, lagged behind, Leonardia said (referring to incumbent Councilors Catalino Alisbo and Reynold Iledan, who ranked 9th and 12th places, respectively).

"The more they tried to put down the project, the more their votes reduced, while the votes of the 'pro' councilors got higher," he said.

This is a very clear indication that, the people of Bacolod want the project and did not believe the criticisms against it, Leonardia said. If the people did, we would all have lost, he said.

SINK OR SWIM

"That is why we were supposed to swim or sink with the government center, and apparently, we floated," he added.

Leonardia said he believes the black propaganda against them, in fact, even helped them gain more votes.

"Since our mandate is clear I am requesting the saboteurs to forget their obvious self-interest and step aside for the good of the city, and give us the privilege to run City Hall," he said.

Leonardia said they will manage City Hall because the people have spoken and the privilege was entrusted to them. He said their intentions are good and they intend to serve the people well and make Bacolod City move forward. If they have any shortcomings their opponents should raise them, he added.

RECORD-BREAKER

Leonardia registered 109,789 votes, believed to be the biggest ever gathered by any candidate in the city, and also the biggest lead over his opponent who got less than half of his votes.

He said he believes this means the people are satisfied with his performance and that of the rest of his teammates who were vital factors in the economic development of the city and the delivery of services in the last three years.

Leonardia thanked those who supported and voted for them and congratulated the COMELEC, the Board of Election Inspectors and Canvassers, as well as, the police, for a job well done.

Meanwhile, Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella who beat Renecito Novero by 1,021 votes, claimed that, despite the money used by his opponents and the political giants behind them, he still won.

To that, Leonardia said, "It is a face-saving device because they did not get what they want, so they are claiming there were giants who fought against them. If that were true, they would have been crushed," he said.

FUNDING SOURCES

"One thing clear is that we had our own supporters, we had people who believed in us and our own party that supported us," Leonardia said. "We clarified from our donors that their money did not come from deals on asphalt, computers, fertilizers and whatever sources, but from their own honest efforts," he said.

It is something to ponder on that, while he and Puentevella won, his brother and the solon's son did not make it, Leonardia said. This means the people really choose whom they want to be their officials

On the other hand, Puentevella's lawyer, Inocencio Ferrer, said the solon has nothing to do with the case involving the government center, which had been the centerpiece of the Lakas-CMD party's attacks in its campaign sorties and press conferences.

Ferrer also said Puentevella is now preparing to see the President.*CGS

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