BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA and MAE SINGUAY
BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental’s Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson sees a possible political “battle royale” here after fellow Love Negros party-mate and former 3rd District congressman Alfredo “Albee” Benitez transferred his voter’s registration to Bacolod yesterday afternoon.
According to Lacson, he will fully support whatever decision Benitez would make – whether the latter will run for city mayor or for senator.
Although Benitez has yet to announce his political direction, reports are strong that he might run against incumbent Mayor Evelio Leonardia.
But what if Benitez will run for governor of Negros Occidental?
“I do not see any challenger coming from our party,” Lacson said, adding that Benitez never seriously considered it.
The governor joined a gathering at the provincial capitol yesterday morning before heading to the San Sebastian Cathedral to attend a noontime mass then to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office where Benitez filed an application to transfer his voter’s registration.
Among those who attended the gathering at the capitol were Benitez’s close allies such as Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer and Abang Lingkod party-list’s congressman and House Minority Leader Stephen Paduano.
Meanwhile, hundreds of people – clad in white shirts – flocked to the public plaza to show their support to Benitez.
Benitez, one of the richest when he was a member of the House of Representatives from 2010 to 2019, said his transfer of voter’s registration was just the “first step” but declined to say his next political steps.
On the other hand, a city government official who asked for anonymity disclosed that the situation at the public plaza when Benitez was at the Comelec office was documented and submitted to the national Inter-Agency Task Force.
Social distancing was not observed, according to the official./PN
