By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Following his recent announcement of a mass oath taking to join the PDP-Laban, taking place next month in Victorias City, Negros Occidental third district Rep. Alfredo Benitez remains mum on his plans for 2019.
The third term congressman has been floated as a candidate for either a senatorial or gubernatorial run.
According to reports, he has already been offered a spot on the PDP-Laban slate if he were to pursue a run for the Senate; however, he was also earlier unanimously endorsed for governor by the mayors of his district.
Among the candidates who are considering a run to succeed incumbent Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr., who is in his third and final term, include Negros Occidental Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, a Love Negros partymate of Benitez; and former Negros Occidental fourth district Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer, who unsuccessfully ran for vice governor in 2016.
Meanwhile, according to Benitez, the said oath taking is expected to gather around 9,000 local officials./WDJ