VICE MAYORAL BET. Bacolod City Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr. files his certificate of candidacy for7 vice mayor before the Commission on Elections on Thursday (Oct. 7, 2021). The lone opposition official elected in the city during the May 2019 polls is serving his third and final term.(Photo courtesy of RMN DYHB Bacolod) BACOLOD CITY - Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr., the lone opposition official elected during the 2019 polls here, filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for vice mayor on Thursday as he is set to complete his third and final term in June next year. In a statement posted on Facebook, Gamboa thanked his supporters, volunteers, and others who believe in him for backing him in seeking the city's second-highest post. "Thank you for joining me, being with me, trusting me and supporting me when I filed my COC today...Your presence pushed me to fight for the post of vice mayor...Your voice will be with me towards true service," he said. Gamboa is running as an independent with several candidates for councilor joining him in the campaign, including lawyers Cesar Beloria Jr. and Eduardo Padios as well as Christian John Weber, LR Contreras, Alan Arroyo, Rico Villafuerte, and Jiffy Grupe Jauod. "Together with the independent candidates for councilors, let us come together to push for real change in the governance of our beloved City of Bacolod," he added. Gamboa is going up against incumbent Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran of the ruling Grupo Progreso and former councilor Caesar Distrito of Team Asenso Bacolod. In 2019, the victory of Gamboa, who ran under the coalition led by former congressman and mayor Monico Puentevella, was considered significant as it foiled the "15-0" scenario projected by Grupo Progreso led by Mayor Evelio Leonardia. The administration party campaigned for a sweep of all 15 elective positions in the city, including congressman, mayor, vice-mayor, and 12 councilors. In the final count, Gamboa was able to grab the 12th and last council seat with 87,301 votes. (PNA) }