Evelio Leonardia

Evelio Ramos Leonardia (born 10 July 1952), also known as Bing Leonardia, is a Filipino politician, lawyer, and realtor who served as mayor of Bacolod thrice: 1995 to 1998, 2004 to 2013, and 2016 to 2022—six terms overall. He also previously served as the representative of Bacolod's lone district from 2013 to 2016, vice mayor of Bacolod from 1992 to 1995 under Mayor Alfredo Montelibano, and a member of the Bacolod City Council from 1988 to 1992. He started his civil service career with the Department of Tourism.

Early life Evelio Leonardia was born to a Court of First Instance Clerk of Court Jose Tulo Leonardia, and Ester Javier Ramos, a housewife on July 10, 1952, in Bacolod, Philippines. He had nine siblings.

Education Leonardia graduated highschool from La Consolacion College-Bacolod, and in 1973 earned his degree of Bachelor of Science in commerce from then La Salle College-Bacolod, now University of St. La Salle, graduating cum laude.

In 1979, he finished the Bachelor of Laws degree from University of Negros Occidental – Recoletos and passed the Bar Examinations conducted by the Supreme Court of the Philippines with a rating of 81.90% that same year.

Early career During 1973 to 1978 served the Philippine Commercial International Bank of Bacolod in various positions, culminating as the officer-in-charge. Thus running under the banner of PDP-Laban, in the 2019 Philippine general election. Leonardia defeated his closest rival, former councilor and national ICT advocate Jocelle Batapa-Sigue.

In October 2019, he was appointed by the president Rodrigo Duterte as the representative of local government units to the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council, the highest consultative and advisory body to the president on economic and development matters.

Billionaire businessman and rival Albee Benitez for the position of city mayor managed to unseat him in the local 2022 Philippine general election. He has henceforth filed an electoral protest at the COMELEC national office.

Later political career Leonardia was defeated again by Benitez in the 2025 election for the city's seat in the House of Representatives.

Controversies

In January 2017, then Ombudsman of the Philippines Conchita Carpio-Morales ordered the dismissal from office of Leonardia, then secretary to the mayor Goldwyn Nifras; city budget officer Luzviminda Treyes; department of public services head Nelson Sedillo Sr.; city engineers Belly Aguillon, Aladino Agbones and Jaries Ebenizer Encabo; city accountant Eduardo Ravena, and city treasurer Annabelle Badajos after they were charged guilty of grave misconduct and gross neglect of duty.

Leonardia and the other eight accused were meted out the accessory penalties of perpetual disqualification from holding public office, forfeiture of retirement benefits, cancellation of civil service eligibility and barred from taking the civil service examination.

The order of dismissal was reversed by the Court of Appeals of the Philippines in September of the same year. Leonardia was set to face trial before the Sandiganbayan for violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3019) over the alleged anomalous procurement of forty-nine million pesos worth of furniture and fixtures for the city's new National Government Center. The graft case was dismissed by the Sandiganbayan in February 2018 and the ombudsman appointee by the president Duterte, Samuel Martires cleared him of the charges.

Personal life Evelio Leonardia is married to Elsa Jeruta Fuentes, who graduated summa cum laude from the University of St. La Salle. He has two children, Evelio Jose F. Leonardia, and Loren Kara F. Leonardia, a painter.

Notable awards and recognition Founding Chairman of the MassKara Foundation September 2019: Represented the Philippines at the Korea Foundation Program for Political Affairs in Seoul, Korea November 2019: Represented the Philippines at the UCLG World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders in Durban, South Africa Founding Chairman of the MassKara Foundation Man of the Year Awardee in the Asia Leaders Awards at the Makati Shangri-la Hotel, November 2019