By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Representative Alfredo ‘Albee’ Benitez (3rd District, PDP-Laban), validated yesterday political talk about him being in the 12-man senate berth of the ruling PDP-Laban for the 2019 polls.
Benitez confirmed that on several occasions House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez stated he was included in the PDP-Laban senate slate. However, the Negrense solon said he had explained to party leaders Alvarez and Senate President Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel III that his primary priority is securing the support of rival parties and clans in Negros Occidental for him to have a better chance at winning.
He also gave the condition that he would only seek a seat in the Senate if the next governor and vice governor of the province are politically united, further citing it is very much possible as long as they all sit down and talk.
“If the province is not united, then it would be difficult for me to rise nationally,” Benitez said.
If Benitez runs successfully for the upper chamber of Congress he will be following the footsteps of his late grand-aunt, the venerable Helen Benitez who served as Senator in the pre-Martial Law era.
Aside from the Senate, Benitez said he may also throw his hat into the gubernatorial race instead but is also considering retiring from politics as his third option.
“Our main priority is the province, political plans for 2019 are still fluid.”/WDJ