Bacolod mayor seeks Comelec guidance for village execs' MassKara participation
BACOLOD CITY – Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez wrote a letter to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) seeking guidance on the participation of barangay officials in the MassKara Festival that coincides with the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

BENITEZ (center). (FB)
Benitez, in a press briefing, said that there might be expenses required in the festival for barangay officials.
“I asked guidance if I need exemption from it. Just to be sure, we asked for clearance,” he said.
The MassKara Festival will run from October 6 to October 22 while the campaign period for the BSKE will be from October 19 to October 28.
“We will be celebrating the festival in between those dates,” Benitez said.
The mayor said that he also informed the Comelec of the festival activities including the visit of national officials here this month.
He said that Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia verbally gave him a clearance when they met.
However, he said that they have to wait for the official copy of the answer of the Comelec regarding the matter.