• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez yesterday brushed aside accusations hurled against him by suspended Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves, stressing that he will address it in a “proper forum.”
Teves claimed that Benitez, who was among his former colleagues in the Visayan bloc, has business transactions with him, also owes him a certain amount of money, and could be included in the list of terrorists of the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) and have assets frozen.
The suspended solon, his brother, former Negros Oriental Gov. Pryde Henry Teves, and 11 others were tagged as terrorists by ATC, a move that allows the Anti-Money Laundering Council to investigate and freeze their financial assets and properties.
Regarding the allegations of business dealings with Rep. Teves, Benitez said “as of now, I have no papers, or any document that specifies, or even indicate of any association,” that can prove it.
Benitez, who served as congressman of the 3rd district of Negros Occidental from 2010 to 2019, said he called Justice Crispin Remulla to inquire ask certain parameters on how to go about it, as he stressed “this is not just ordinary pleadings that we can answer, based on what is being printed, or what is being asked.” It should be handled by the proper authorities, he added.
Benitez added that he is already “bounded by the The Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012 that any person or company that directly or indirectly giving to designated terrorists will be subject to certain penalties that includes reclusion perpetua.”
There are certain things that we must abide. And I am the first person that will never, never break the law, he pointed out.
While he acknowledged that Rep. Teves was an active member of Visayan bloc, Benitez said the situation and circumstances are now different.
This is not like when we were together from 2013 to 2016 in Congress, Benitez stressed, acknowledging also that Teves’ brother, Henry Pryde, was also once a member of the Visayan bloc.
“We were colleagues. It’s really heartbreaking for me to see this kind of situation. But that’s the law. There are things that we should abide by, and we cannot do without”, the mayor said.
Benitez advised Rep. Teves “to go home and face your cases.”
In a press conference at the Bacolod City Government Center, the mayor stressed that going back to the Philippines “is his best option.”
“I don’t believe that his security is in danger. Why not surrender to somebody he feels safe with? It’s hard to be on the run,” he pointed out.*
