TERESA D. ELLERA
October 4, 2018

NEGROS Occidental Third District Representative Alfredo Benitez mended some political squabbles in his district so there will be no major political contest in the 2019 election.

Benitez confirmed Wednesday, October 3, that former Talisay City mayor Eric Saratan has already accepted to be the second nominee of Abang Lingkod party-list, meaning he will not challenge anymore Talisay City incumbent Mayor Neil Lizares in the 2019 elections.

Third District Representative Alfredo Benitez (left) and Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson (right), endorse the candidacies of Silay City Mayor Mark Golez and Acting Mayor Tom Ledemar for mayor and vice mayor, in the midterm elections. (SunStar Bacolod)

First nominee of Abang Lingkod party-list is Representative Stephen Paduano.

Benitez also confirmed that incumbent Board Member David Albert Lacson has accepted to be run for vice mayor of E.B. Magalona with incumbent Mayor Marvin Malacon.

"He agreed not to challenge his cousin, incumbent Murcia Mayor Andrew Montelibano, for board member of the Third District," Benitez said.

Benitez said the cousins have already mended after some differences happened in the previous election.

Benitez’s brother, Dr. Francisco Benitez, will run for congressman in the Third District.

Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. and Benitez said they are doing their best effort to arrange in some towns and cities to avoid members from the two political groups opposing each other in the 2019 elections.

He said that they are getting the final decision of Fifth District Representative Alejandro Mirasol because he still has one term left. He was been reported to be running for mayor of Binalabagan and oppose his former ally incumbent Mayor Emmanuel Aranda.

In Himamaylan, Mayor Agustin Ernesto Bascon said he accepted the backing of Lacson and Benitez for his decision to run for congressman in the Fifth District. He said that it is public service that made him decide to run in the upper position.

"Our ultimate goal is peace for everyone but anyone has the right to run in the position that they wanted because this is a free country. Our family if for peace and sincere public service for the poor," Bascon said of the clash between the clash in their family.

He said the the scenario is not new anymore and that this political clash is not only happening in the fifth district and in Himamaylan City.

Bascon also admitted that the political rivalries among the family has affected their family and personal relationships. "We do it civilly. We do it at high level," he added.

Himamaylan City Vice Mayor Carminia Bascon also saidmany are saying that she should rest from politics but she said that she is still mentally and physically fit for public service.

She also added that despite their political rivalry, she still love her family and have been praying for all of them.