LP Negros Occidental chairman stripped of functions

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – Is the ruling Liberal Party (LP) having problems with its provincial chairman in Negros Occidental? 

Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez of the 3rd district revealed on Thursday, October 8, that he was stripped of his functions as provincial chairman of the administration party.

There have been reports of Benitez backing the presidential bid of Senator Grace Poe instead of LP standard-bearer Manuel Roxas II, but the congressman had yet to comment on them.

He clarified, however, that he did not resign from LP.

“As of now, I think it’s Lito (former Governor Rafael Coscolluela) who is singing the Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance” of LP members who are running in 2016, Benitez said. 

“It’s an authority I would gladly have him to,” he added. 

When pressed if he relinquished his function, Benitez said, “He (Coscolluela) was given the authority [to sign the CONA].”

Coscolluela, who is a consultant at the Capitol, has been designated by Roxas to do a parallel campaign for his presidential bid with the civil society in Negros Occidental.

Benitez had been very elusive to the media in the past months. He was absent from a few engagements of the administration party for Roxas: when Roxas declared his presidential bid in July in Manila; during the gathering of LP friends in Cebu in August; and during Roxas’ sortie in Negros Occidental in September.

Benitez was also reportedly absent during the announcement of LP’s vice presidential bet, Camarines Sur Representative Leni Robredo, in Manila on October 5.

The congressman said he will make an announcement “very soon” about his next steps, adding that the people of Negros Occidental will be the first to know about these. – Rappler.com