• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez yesterday said that their family will support the reelection bid of Governor Eugenio Jose “Bong” Lacson in the elections in May next year.
The name of former Victorias City Mayor Francis Frederick “Wantan” Palanca was earlier floated by the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino to challenge Lacson in the 2025 gubernatorial race.
Palanca is the cousin of the late Betty Bantug Benitez, mother of siblings Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez and Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez.
Asked if his predecessor, Palanca, will run against Lacson next year, Mayor Javi replied “I don’t know what he is thinking. He has his own mind.”
Lacson earlier said that he is ready to face anyone in the coming elections, and that he cannot choose his opponent.
The Love Negros and United Negros Alliance (UNegA) coalition has aired their full support for Lacson, who will be seeking his third and final term as governor of Negros Occidental
The plans of PDP to field Palanca, who took his oath as member in previous months, as the party’s gubernatorial bet, has prompted nine councilors of Victorias City to resign from the party. Even his son, Councilor Derek Palanca has also assured his support for Lacson.
As of this time, there is no word yet from former Mayor Palanca, whether he will accept the possible endorsement from PDP, as their gubernatorial bet for Negros Occidental.
In the 2022 elections, Palanca did not make it as the second nominee for the Abang Lingkod party list group, which is to be vacated by incumbent Rep. Stephen Joseph Paduano.
Incumbent Negros Occidental 3rd district Board Member Manuel Frederick Ko earlier confirmed his intention to run as a representative of the Abang Lingkod partylist group.
Regarding the election plans of his father for next year, the younger Benitez admitted that he has yet to know.
“There are certain factors that could sway his decision. For him, he wants to make the best decision for him, and more importantly, for Bacolod City,” he said.
This is not something that should be taken lightly, Javi Benitez stressed.*
