• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez has announced his intention to seek reelection as mayor of the highly-urbanized Bacolod City.
“Right now, I’m staying put,” Benitez said during a press briefing of his brother, Negros Occidental Third District Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez, in Talisay City on Saturday (March 15).
“As of now, yes,” he reiterated when further asked if he will seek reelection.
On reports that he may also run for a national position, Benitez said that he has not received any offer “although there are talks”.
Asked on the possibility that Bacolod City Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya, who is on his third and final term, may run against him, the mayor said “there’s always a possibility” for it to happen.
“Everybody has the freedom to do what they want,” he added.
Still, Benitez said that their political group, Asenso Bacolod, has yet to discuss their line-up for the 2025 mid-term elections.
Benitez said that Gasataya “has a say on who will replace him as it is his district” as he debunked speculations that the relationship between him and the lawmaker is “cold”.
Both Benitez and Gasataya attended the groundbreaking rites for the new building of the Home for the Blind on March 15, where the mayor said he asked the legislator on the status of the redistricting bill of Bacolod.
Benitez said that Gasataya told him that the proposed redistricting was filed as second among the 25 local government units (LGUs) asking for redistricting.
While Benitez acknowledged that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is not fond of dividing LGUs, he said “but for a greater reason, we may be able to convince the President to do it for Bacolod.”
On the political fate of Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, who is also on his third and last term, Benitez said they have not discussed anything yet, although Familiaran attended the unity organization in December last year.
Rep. Stephen Joseph Paduano, a strong ally of Benitez, is also graduating as congressman of Abang Lingkod partylist group.
“Cong. Caraps has expressed interest to be a supporter, not a candidate”, Benitez said. | GB
