Negros Occidental LP chair out of party; to run as independent

Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez. SCREENGRAB from the House of Representatives’ website

BACOLOD CITY—Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez of the 3rd District is officially out of the Liberal Party (LP).

The administration party has appointed former Manapla Mayor Manuel Escalante as the new LP chairman in Negros Occidental, replacing Benitez.

When asked if he was still with LP, Benitez replied: “Can you be LP and independent at the same time?”

Benitez, the fourth richest man in the Lower House, has opted to run for re-election as an independent candidate.

He had yet to say whom he was supporting for president in the 2016 elections.

During the filing of the certificates of candidacy, former Negros Occidental governor Rafael Coscolluela was assigned by LP to sign the Certificates of Nomination and Acceptance of the LP bets in the province.

However, the former governor explained that his authority ended last Dec. 10.

Coscolluela, however, said he still heads the “Friends of Mar” campaign in the province and also supports the campaign of LP vice presidential bet, Rep. Leni Robredo.

He also heads the parallel or non-conventional campaign of civil society, people organizations, nongovernment organizations and sectoral groups for LP standard-bearer Mar Roxas.

READ: Grace Poe’s Palace run seen to split votes in Negros Occidental

Coscolluela said that even without Benitez, the Roxas campaign machinery in Negros Occidental will remain strong.

Even in the third district which is Benitez’ bailiwick, LP has already a structure in place, he added.

Coscolluela said the reality is most of the mayoral candidates of Benitez in the third district did not show any indication that they would support Roxas, but were moving more toward Sen. Grace Poe and Vice President Jejomar Binay, Roxas’ rivals in the presidential race.

“The point is from the perspective of the party, you had a provincial chairman who could not be depended on. Any political party would elect to have a structure that will protect its own interests. If its own chair could not do that, you can’t blame it for doing what it can,” he added.

Coscolluela said that even Iloilo Rep. Jerry Trenas, an LP member, had pointed out that Benitez could not be expected to toe the partyline being an independent candidate.

“In answer to your question on whether the congressman will support Secretary Mar, the answer was always well we don’t really know. I guess we should leave it up to congressman Albee to declare whenever he finds it timely,” Coscolluela said.

“For now I think I can safely say congressman Albee is considered independent and no longer be part of the LP hierarchy. As far as we are concerned, the LP chairman of the party is former Mayor Manolet Escalante,” he added.

Escalante, for his part, said he does not want to be called chairman of the LP in the province but “a worker for the Liberal Party” attending to the needs of locals officials.

“Mar is the best person to run the country. The opponents of Mar keep saying they will get the votes of the masses, we will show them whom the masses will vote for,” he said.

Coscolluela said LP is not closing its doors for Benitez.

“The LP leadership has said if Albee decides to come back and offers his support for Mar then by all means he will be welcome,” Coscolluela said. RAM

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