By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
Local political parties United Negros Alliance (UNegA) and Love Negros support Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Benitez amid the allegations hurled against him by Negros Oriental 3rd District Congressman Arnolfo Teves, Jr.
UNegA secretary-general, Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante, Jr. said their support for Benitez remains strong, as they regularly consult him with regards to his way as city mayor.
He added he has limited knowledge of Benitez’s private dealings, and the same goes with Teves.
Escalante also affirmed he had already seen the videos circulating on social media and he was sad to see that the former political allies had parted ways.
Earlier this month, Teves, during an online press conference after he was designated as a terrorist by the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC), accused Benitez of betraying him in their “agreement.”
However, Benitez said he is the first person that would never, ever break the law.
“I am actually bound by certain laws. The Terrorism Financing Preventive Suppression Act of 2012 specifies that any person, association, company, etcetera, directly or indirectly dealing with designated terrorists will be subjected to certain penalties,” Benitez said.
“And in fact, the penalties even go as far as reclusion perpetua,” he added.
Teves also referred to Benitez as his “boss.”
“Alam niyo naman boss ko si Albee Benitez, ‘di ba? Ka-negosyo ko rin si Albee Benitez. Kaibigan ko pero ngayon nga ‘di na ako pinapansin,” Teves said.
“Ayoko sana na pangalanan kita, pero masyado na akong iniipit… Paki-bayaran naman ‘yung utang mo sa akin. Maawa ka naman sa pamilya ko,” the lawmaker added.
Teves’ brother, former Negros Oriental Governor Pryde Henry Teves and 11 others were also tagged as terrorists by the ATC over allegations that they were responsible for the string of murder incidents in Negros Oriental and in the Pamplona massacre, which claimed the lives of 10 individuals, including former Governor Roel Degamo.
Teves has questioned the ATC as to why he was branded a terrorist when he claimed to have business partners.
Meanwhile, his legal counsel, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, commented that since the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has decided to freeze Teves’ assets, then they should also freeze Benitez’s.
“I think the AMLC should be put on notice,” Topacio said.
On his part, Benitez asked Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla the parameters of how to go about it.
“He [Remulla] mentioned that it is better we address it in a proper forum,” Benitez said.
“I have heard nga may mga allegations of certain business dealings, but as of now, I have no paper or any document that specifies or even indicates any association. But if he [Teves] says there is, siling ko gani, then that is something I will discuss with Secretary Boy [Remulla], and I will take it up with him. It is the proper authorities that should handle this,” he added.
Benitez and Teves were together from 2013 to 2016 at Congress as members of the Visayan bloc./DGB, WDJ