Rep. Benitez withdraws PDP-LABAN 2019 senatorial nomination
Published September 5, 2018, 3:36 PM
By Ben Rosario
Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo “Albee” Benitez, who was instrumental in the ascent of former president and now Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Wednesday withdrew his nomination as member of the PDP-Laban senatorial line up in next year’s election.
Benitez, chairman of the House Committee on Housing and Urban Development, has been included in the PDP-Laban ticket for the 2019 senatorial race amid the increasing number of names in the lineup in the country’s most dominant political party, which is headed for a coalition with allied political parties.
“I decided to forego of the opportunity to run as a member of the PDP-Laban’s senatorial line up in next year’s elections because I believe that party solidarity can be better achieved if the leadership will be given a free hand to choose its candidates based on present legislative priorities and keeping in mind the seniority of other candidates,” Benitez said in a press statement.
However, he stressed that his decision will not, in any way, reduce his role in the PDP-Laban.
Benitez vowed to “actively campaign for and support those who will be chosen by President Rodrigo Duterte.”
“My commitment to a single Visayan block remains and I shall endeavor to help our party through local initiatives in the region,” the senior administration lawmaker said.
He added: “In the meantime, I will spend the remainder of my last term as congressman pursuing my legislative advocacies for reforms in housing and urban development.”
Inclusion in the PDP-Laban senatorial ticket is reportedly a choice that will be made by a group of key party officials headed by Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Davao Del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, former Senate president and House speaker, respectively.
Benitez’s name has figured prominently and consistently in the PDP-Laban senatorial list.
Recently, Pimentel announced a list of eight possible party senatorial bets but without Benitez’s name.
“Clearly, Congressman Benitez’s name was no longer included because he has decided to voluntarily waive it,” said a Benitez staff.