Not pro-Mar? LP leader in Negros Occidental quits

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – Negros Occidental 3rd District Representative Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez, the 4th richest congressman in the country and considered the leader of the Visayan bloc in the lower house, has formally left the ruling Liberal Party.

This was after months of talks in political circles that he could be supporting the presidential bid of Senator Grace Poe instead of LP’s Manuel Roxas II. While keeping quiet on who he was supporting for president in 2016, however, Benitez had skipped key events for Roxas in the province and the region.

He formalized his break from LP over the weekend in a meeting of Visayas politicians, he confirmed.

Benitez said he was leaving the party after its leaders in the region fielded challengers to his local candidates, especially in his district. He is seeking re-election as an independent.

Former Negros Occidental Governor Rafael “Lito” Coscolluela, who oversees Roxas’ networking with civil society groups, said on Friday, December 18, they found Benitez not woking in the interest of the party.

“From the perspective of the party, you have a provincial chairman you can’t depend on. So any political party will elect to have a structure that will protect its own interest. If it sees its own chairman can’t do that, then they can’t be blame for doing what they can.” 

He pointed out that most, if not all, of Benitez’s candidates didn’t show any indication that they would support Roxas for president. “They are showing signs of support for Vice President Jejomar Binay and Senator Grace Poe,” Coscolluela said.

Benitez was unceremoniously stripped of his functions as LP provincial chair before the filing of certificates of candidacy in October. He was replaced by Coscolluela, who clarified that his designation as LP provincial chair was only during the filing of COC and expired on December 10.

Former Manapla Mayor Manuel Escalante was nominated as provincial chairman of LP here after Benitez left.

Coscolluela said that the “party can’t just depend and wait [for Benitez]. In the meantime, it will have its own structure. I’m not saying he’s not welcome. The LP leadership said that if Albee decides to come back and offer support to Mar, by all means, he’s all welcome.” – Rappler.com