Congressman wants family member to succeed him

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental third district Rep. Alfredo Benitez has yet to decide between running for Senate as part of the PDP-Laban slate or seeking to replace outgoing Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. in the 2019 elections.

“At the proper time, we would make that decision,” he said recently.

However, Benitez hinted he is “not too keen” on seeking national office, despite endorsements from House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III.

Meanwhile, the congressman revealed he would like to see his brother, Francisco, succeed him in Congress.

His elder brother has since been deployed throughout the district to get a pulse of the electorate; to see if they would like the seat to remain within their family.

Last month, Alvarez endorsed Benitez during the PDP-Laban mass oath-takings held in Victorias City and Bacolod City./DGB, WDJ