LP chair in Negros Occ files COC for House as independent

BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines — The Liberal Party chair in Negros Occidental is running for reelection as an independent candidate.

Rep. Alfredo Benitez of Negros Occidental’s 3rd district filed his certificate of candidacy on Friday afternoon at the Commission on Elections provincial office.

“As of now I’m party-less,” said Benitez when asked if he still belonged to LP.

He said he was scheduled to meet with LP standard bearer Mar Roxas next week apparently to discuss his status with the administration party after he learned from the media that he had been replaced as LP provincial chair.

LP has tasked former governor Rafael Coscolluela in leading the campaign of Roxas  and his running mate Rep. Leni Robredo in Negros Occidental.

Coscolluela had also been signing the certificates of nomination of LP candidates in Negros Occidental.

Benitez, the fourth richest congressman in the House of Representatives, earlier said he had not resigned from LP but his powers had been clipped.

So far, Benitez had not aired support for Roxas. Instead, there were talks that he was inclined to back the presidential bid of Senator Grace Poe.

When asked on Friday if he already had presidential candidate, he replied that he had not decided yet. SFM