• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Bacolod Lone District Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez has confirmed that he is now part of the majority bloc at the House of Representatives.
Benitez, who used to be a member of the independent bloc when Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, was the House Speaker, said that the public should give new House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III a chance to redeem the image of the House of Representatives.
He and his son, Negros Occidental Third District Rep. Javier Benitez, voted for Dy, as the successor of Romualdez.
Upon his assumption as the new Speaker, Dy vowed to work to bring back the trust of the people to the House of Representatives, by pursuing budget reforms and to ensure transparency, stressing that he will not defend the guilty.
Benitez, who was among those who were considered as a possible candidate for the Speakership, admitted that he gave way to Dy for the Speakership, upon learning that the latter had the support of majority and was selected by the major political blocs. As Dy vowed to redeem the image of the House, we voted for him, the Bacolod solon said.
He added that Speaker Dy, in his speech upon assumption of the new position, was “firm on what he intends to do during his term.”
Let’s give him a chance to prove himself. I believe in what he says, Benitez said, adding that the Speaker is finding ways on how to redeem the image of the House, which had been tarnished due to suspicions of a cover up of anomalies allegedly committed by its members.
There will be no sacred cows in the investigations, the Bacolod solon said.
Asked if he is now eyeing some committees under the leadership of Speaker Dy, Benitez said it was not discussed yet.
It was agreed among the members to give priority to the budget, before discussing the committee memberships, the Bacolod solon said.
Benitez, in an interview with One News, said they have a timeline of three weeks to forward the approved 2026 budget to the Senate, as they will allow the public to see, scrutinize, and watch the budget deliberations, as a form of transparency.
Asked what his expectations from the leadership of Speaker Dy, Benitez said the seeking of truth, bring those accountable to justice, provide a transparent platform for all transactions of Congress and to make sure that proper reforms be instituted, so that this kind of issues will not happen again.*
