By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The administration Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) has reserved a slot in its 2019 senatorial lineup for 3rd District Rep. Alfredo “Albee” Benitez, Vice Governor Eugenio Jose “Bong” Lacson yesterday said.
Lacson, a stalwart of the Nationalist People’s Coalition and one of the leaders of local political bloc Love Negros, made the revelation when Capitol pressed him for a reaction to a possible gubernatorial matchup against Benitez in 2019.
The offer was relayed to Benitez by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez when the latter passed by Bacolod with other congressmen who inspected the country’s maritime highway, he said.
Obviously he (Benitez) has many options for 2019, Lacson explained.
The Vice Governor, who is on his second term and is allowed one more re-election bid, has been frequently asked about his political plans as Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. is barred from seeking another term.
“We have not really sat down and discussed our political plans as a group. It is too early to announce political plans,” he pointed out.
I have not yet made any decision on what I will do in 2019, Lacson said.
“That decision will be next year,” he said./WDJ