BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The local Election Registration Board unanimously denied a petition opposing the transfer of the voter registration record of former Negros Occidental Third District Rep. Alfredo Benitez, from Victorias to Bacolod City.
The ERB, composed of Election Officer 4 Kathrina Trinio-Caña as chairperson, and Hermilo Pa-oyon and Gladys Amylaine Sales as members, in a decision dated July 23, said they denied the opposition filed by Hector Yula, and Teodoro and Jonah Abao, and approved the application of Benitez to transfer his voter registration to Brgy. Mandalagan, Bacolod City.
On July 13, Yula and the Abaos filed an opposition to the application of Benitez, claiming that he is not a resident of Bacolod City.
After the ERB hearing of the petition on July 19, Benitez said he will run for mayor of Bacolod in next year’s elections.
“We respect and thank the ERB for the decision,” Benitez said, stressing that his team had complete faith in the Comelec-ERB process.
Marcus Aurelian Vaflor, counsel for the petitioners, said they have not yet received a copy of the ERB resolution, adding they have other legal remedies to explore, in opposing the transfer of Benitez’s voter registration to Bacolod. Vaflor said they can file a petition for exclusion against Benitez before a court.*
