Human rights lawyer Jose Molintas and City Councilor Arthur Allad-iw, a former journalist, are part of Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong’s slate. Both are running for councilor.

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Natives versus interlopers and tradition versus change were the main political themes here on Saturday, March 26, as thousands turned out for the kickoff campaign rallies of Bacolod City Mayor Evelio “Bing” Leonardia and his opponent, billionaire and former Negros Occidental 3rd district representative Alfredo “Albee” Benitez.

The Leonardia-led Grupo Progreso bathed the public plaza in red, its main political color, while Benitez’s Team Asenso brought throngs of white-shirted supporters to the Paglaum Sports Complex.

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Mayor Evelio “Bing” Leonardia and his challenger, billionaire Albee Benitez, duked it out with long caravans and huge rallies at the start of the local campaign period.  

The race is interesting because while Benitez’s initial promise of “change” from Leonardia’s brand of traditional politics attracted the middle class and professionals and students, his endorsement of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has tarnished his brand. 

Leonardia has yet to endorse a presidential candidate but one of his Grupo Progresp slate members told Rappler, “Definitely, it won’t be Marcos.”

Neither man is known to run a volunteer-led campaign so it raises the question of what payback will look like for voters after the elections. 

The Commission on Elections (Comeled)-Cebu said it received no reports of health and safety protocols violations as local candidates officially launched their campaigns on Friday, March 25.

Comelec-Cebu provincial supervisor Jerome Brillantes told Rappler that apart from traffic caused by candidates’ motorcades, the first day of the 45-day campaign period was seamless.

Brillantes reminded candidates and supporters to continue following the Comelec’s safety measures for election sorties.

“We are strongly reminding the candidates as well as the supporters nila to strongly observe sa health protocols. With that wala man ta’y reported violations with any of that (we have received no reports of any of that yet),” he said.

Voters’ sentiments are split in the local scene between the young Marcoses, and the veteran Fariñases. Once again, Ilocos Norte folks have no choice.

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The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) has cautioned political groups against buying votes, the use of armed groups, and bringing military and police security escorts in known New People’s Army (NPA) strongholds.

“The NPA has received its orders and will enforce these policies. We advise these politicians to follow these rules to avoid armed encounters during their campaign sorties inside red areas,” said CPP spokesman Marco Valbuena in a statement.

The NPA, he said, would also step in when vote-buying takes place in villages under the “red areas,” calling it “the most despicable proof of the country’s corrupt electoral system.”

In Caloocan City, the mayoralty race features big names and old faces.

For the 2022 local elections, at least six are gunning for the city’s top post, among them two Caloocan lawmakers: Egay Erice and Along Malapitan.

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Mayoral candidate Geraldine Rosal held a rally at the start of the local campaign period on Friday, March 25, at the Sawangan Park in Legazpi City, while her rival, congressman Alfredo Garbin and his ticket held their grand rally at Peñaranda Park.