Negros execs, Visayas solons endorse Benitez for senator

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines  — Negros Occidental officials and members of the Visayas bloc in Congress have endorsed Representative Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez Jr. (3rd district, Negros Occidental) to run for senator in the 2016 elections.

Benitez, however, has yet to decide if he will enter the senatorial race, saying that he is still concentrating his works for his district. “I still have to consult the district and my focus is really for my constituents,” he said.

“Before we talk of any national issues, we should make sure that the district is properly provided for and all the programs are implemented properly,” said the congressman.

Benitez, along with Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, some Visayan bloc solons, Provincial Board members and mayors, were in Macau over the weekend for a social gathering. There, the congressman was encouraged to run for a national post in 2016. 

Marañon had insisted that Benitez should join the senatorial race. “I will tell everybody that we should endorse Albee for senator because it has been a long time that we don’t have a senator from Negros,” he said.

“It is nice to hear something because it re-assures that all the things that I have done in my district is properly being supported by other congressmen in the country. However, there are a lot of parameters to be ironed out and a lot of conditions to be studied carefully before we can say that we are ready to move up,” Benitez said.

Lacson, for his part, said he would support Benitez but the latter has to do some serious study and he should survey on his chances first because a slot in the Senate is not an easy job.

Congressmen of the Visayan bloc in the House also vowed to support Benitez should he decide to run for senator in 2016.

Iloilo City Representative Jerry Treñas said: “We are solidly behind him. There are 34 congressmen who are members of the Visayas bloc and as far as we are concerned in our respective districts, we will make sure that we will make him win.”

Treñas said Benitez needs a sizable chunk of votes to win for the Senate. “As soon as he decides, we will be solidly behind him,” he added.

Bohol 1st district Representative Rene Relampagos said the Visayas solons are pushing Benitez to run. “We will be really happy and we in the Visayas could push for more representations in the national government especially people coming from the Visayas region. It’s up to Benitez though but I believe it will be good for the Visayas.”

Relampagos added: “The Boholanons will support Benitez because there is a commonality among us  Visayans.”

Capiz Representative Tony del Rosario said there’s a need to have a representation (in the Senate) not only from Negros Occidental but the whole region. “Albee is friendly and he is also doing his job well not only in his district but also in our district. We can see his sincerity to serve,” he added.  (FREEMAN)