• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez thanked his father, Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, for his endorsement, but clarified that he will be the one to make the announcement on whether he will run for congressman in the May 2025 midterm elections.
“I want to emphasize that any decision regarding my candidacy will be made in close consultation with my team and, most importantly, with the Victoriasanon people,” Benitez said in a statement.
“No one else will make this announcement on my behalf. We will approach this matter with careful consideration and the respect it deserves,” he added.
The young mayor’s uncle, Negros Occidental Third District Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez, assumed Monday his new post as the director-general of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
The caretaker of the district has yet to be named.
Last weekend, the Bacolod City mayor, who is also a former third district congressman, said that his son is the strongest contender for the post vacated by his uncle.
Benitez said that he is deeply grateful for the endorsement of his father, saying that it is an “honor” for him.
“As we all know, Mayor Albee is an accomplished public official who has significantly contributed to the progress of the third district during his time in office,” he added.
The Victorias City mayor said that “for a young person like myself, the best course of action is to listen and learn from the successes and challenges of those who have come before us in public service”.
“This wisdom is invaluable in our efforts to build a better future for the next generation,” he added. | GB
