By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday said he is unaffected by talks claiming Abang Lingkod partylist Rep. Stephen Paduano may challenge him for mayor in 2019 with former Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson as his running mate.

“I have no reaction, may they live happily ever after,” Leonardia said.

The mayor stressed, for now, he is not allowing politics to intervene in his work, adding, when the time comes he will campaign hard.

The Paduano-Sayson tandem emerged following recent oath-taking for Bacolod City barangay officials.

Sayson previously served as vice mayor from 2007 to 2013 under an earlier Leonardia administration.

Rumors surfaced earlier this year suggesting Paduano would run for mayor alongside Bacolod City Councilor Ricardo Tan as his vice mayor and former Bacolod City Mayor Monico Puentevella seeking the lone district congressional seat, a position he held from 2001 to 2010./DGB, WDJ