BACOLOD City – Former Negros Occidental 3rd District congressman Alfredo “Albee” Benitez is transferring his voter’s registration from Victorias City to this city.
Should Mayor Evelio Leonardia and Cong. Greg Gasataya worry?
In recent days, streamers screaming “Run Albee, Run” sprouted across Bacolod City.
Former councilor Roberto Rojas, campaign manager of Grupo Progreso – the local political aggrupation of Leonardia and Gasataya – declined to comment. For now.
Abang Lingkod party-list’s Cong. Stephen Paduano disclosed yesterday that Benitez would appear at the local Commission on Elections office here today to apply for a transfer of his voter’s registration.
This sent residents and netizens of this city abuzz. Will he run for mayor or for congressman of Bacolod, they asked.
Leonardia, who is expected to seek a third consecutive term in next year’s election, has not commented on the matter. A veteran of Bacolod City politics, he was first elected city mayor in 1995 until 1998, and from 2004 until 2013. He served as Bacolod congressman from 2013 to 2016.
Paduano said Benitez has a house in Mountain View Subdivision, Barangay Mandalagan but declined to discuss the former congressman’s political plans.
“Sia (Albee) na lang na masabat kon ano ang iya plano para sa Bacolod,” said Paduano.
Gasataya was mum, too, regarding Benitez. A former radio broadcaster, he was elected congressman in 2016 and was reelected in 2019. He is eligible for a third consecutive term in next year’s election. He had also served as vice mayor and councilor.
Benitez – one of the wealthiest members of the House of Representatives during his nine-year term from 2010 to 2019 – was recently seen chatting with vendors at the central market.
Currently, he serves as a consultant for trade and investments promotion of Negros Occidental’s Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson./PN
