By JEN BAYLON

Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said he expects a mass resignation of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) members in Negros Occidental following the endorsement of former Victorias City Mayor Francis Frederick “Wantan” Palanca as their candidate for governor in the 2025 midterm elections.

“I think soon there will be mass resignation sa PDP,” Benitez said on the sidelines of the Provincial Stakeholders’ Consultative Power Summit in Bacolod yesterday.

“There are many mayors and councilors who have signified their intention to resign from the party,” he added.

However, Benitez said some local government officials in Western Visayas remain content with the PDP and continue to support the party.

In April, Atty. Jesus Villanueva Hinlo, PDP deputy secretary general for Visayas, said they are considering fielding Palanca against Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson in the midterm elections.

Several PDP members in Victorias resigned after receiving information that Palanca was being considered for endorsement as the PDP’s gubernatorial candidate, saying “that decision was made without consultation.”

Meanwhile, Abang Lingkod Party-list Representative Stephen Paduano claimed that Benitez will be seeking re-election in the midterm polls.

Paduano said the mayor will seek another term as some changes he wanted to implement have not been fulfilled yet./JB, WDJ