Former congressman Alfredo “Albee” Benitez said today, Oct. 4, that his team will not field a candidate for Congress, adding that he respects the decision of reelectionist Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya to stay neutral over the expected battle royale between him and Mayor Evelio “Bing” Leonardia.
Leonardia, head of the dominant Grupo Progreso that carried Gasataya as its congressional candidate in the 2016 and 2019 elections, also said in a radio interview recently that they will not field an opponent for the solon.
He said that Gasataya committed to “stay neutral until Election Day”.
“Amo na ang kaundan sang amon gin istoryahan…kag ginpabalo ko na sa kay Vice Mayor El Cid, sa konsehales kag sa mga kapitan, nga in effect, amo na ang promisa niya (Gasataya),” the mayor added.
Gasataya, in a press conference recently, said: “Mayor Bing Leonardia and former congressman Albee Benitez are my ‘maninoys’ during my wedding. Both are significant to my personal and political journey”
“I will run as neutral. I am not taking sides,” he stressed, adding that he decided to “manage himself between two roads.”
The solon filed his COC Oct. 4, and asked the support of Bacolodnons to realize the construction of the Bacolod General Hospital. He added that education, health, infrastructure, and social services remain as his top priorities.
Gasataya is running under the Nationalist People’s Coalition, and was accompanied by his legal staff, Atty. Mark Mayo, who filed his COC for councilor of Bacolod, also under the NPC.
Mayo, 27, said he has been working closely with the different barangay captains for six years while he is with the Office of Gasataya, so he is aware of the needs of every barangay.
Both Gasataya and Mayo said they will manage their campaign and will not take sides between Benitez and Leonardia, who are expected to slug it out in the mayoral race in the 2022 polls.
Benitez said Team Albee is already complete and he will present his slate Tuesday morning after a mass. The team is then expected to file their COCs at the city Comelec. — MML/CGC
