BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez said on June 26 he intends to continue serving in the 3rd district of Negros Occidental, and his nephew, Javier “Javi” Lopez Benitez, may join him in politics.
Former Rep. Alfredo “Albee” Benitez, father of Javi, transferred his voter’s registration record from Victorias City to Bacolod City, and this indicated that he may also join politics in Bacolod City.
Rep. Benitez said he has yet to accomplish the plans and programs he had promised, aside from the flooding programs he already presented to concerned government agencies.
Benitez admitted that his older brother, Albee, is also inclined to serve the community he intends to help.
Javi, meanwhile, attended the launching of Baskog-Victorias, a youth group in Victorias City, with Rep. Benitez, Philippine Councilors’ League-Negros Occidental president Ryan Gamboa, and Liga ng mga Barangay president Juvy Pepello, at the Bantug Farm in Daan Banwa, Victorias City on June 26.
Javi expressed his inclination to serve his “kasimanwas” in Victorias City.
He said his vision will be aligned with the programs of Baskog-Victorias, that was formed to be a venue for Victoriahanons to have inclusive collaboration with honest, credible, and competent leaders to create programs that are community-centered for the progress of Victorias.
Baskog stands for Builders of Advocates that works on Service that are people-centered, Keepers of honest, credible and competent leaders who give Opportunities for all, through Good governance.
Javi said that his involvement in the many charity works of his mother, Dominique “Nikki” Lopez Benitez, exposed him to the needs of people in every barangay he had visited.
Nikki, who is the president of Nikki Cares Foundation, has been actively involved in extending free medical services to indigents, in partnership with the Makati Medical Center Foundation and other non-government organizations, in the past several years now.*
