Saturday, July 28, 2018
BY CARLA P. GOMEZ

Rep. Alfredo “Albee” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) yesterday denied allegations that he is leading fellow Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) congressmen in abandoning the party.

Benitez, leader of the Visayan bloc in the House, said he does not know of any mass exodus from the PDP Laban, and that party members are aware that such move could lead to political suicide.

He pointed out that PDP Laban has a formidable network of leaders nationwide, it would be a waste to cause the breakup of the party.

In a recent lunch meeting with PDP Laban members and House Speaker Gloria Arroyo, there was no talk of an exodus, he said.

“Even Speaker Arroyo said she will remain with PDP-Laban,” Benitez said.

Benitez has been associated with Arroyo for his role in her takeover of the House speakership from Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez.

He also said the election of new PDP-Laban officials that led to Rogelio Garcia’s replacing Senator Koko Pimentel as national president, yesterday was not legitimate.

The group of Garcia claimed to be the “genuine party members”,

No general assembly was called, it violates the PDP Laban constitution, Clint Aranas, PDP Laban national treasurer and Negros head, also said.

It is not in accordance with party rules, Aranas said.

Meanwhile, Ding Generoso, ConCom spokesperson, said the phenomenon of massive party-switching now taking place at the House of Representatives will never happen under the draft federal constitution crafted by the Consultative Committee.

The ConCom draft contains strong provisions against political turncoats, political butterflies and “balimbings” that virtually makes it impossible for politicians to switch parties and political allegiances without facing sanctions, he said.

If the ConCom proposals had been in place, more than half of the present members of the House who have been moving from one party to another would lose their seats and would be barred from running in the next elections, Generoso said.

Sections 7 of Article V on Suffrage and Political Parties strongly prohibits elected official from changing parties during their term of office. If they do so, they shall be removed from their post and be barred from appointment to any post in government or from running in the next election, he said.

“Political parties who accept turncoats may face cancellation of their registration with the Commission on Elections,” he added.

The majority of the Negros Occidental officials, especially from the Liberal Party, joined the PDP-Laban after President Rodrigo Duterte won the presidency.*CPG