• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
There is no way that Congressman Greg (Gasataya) and I will be on opposing ends, stressed Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez during a birthday party celebration organized by City government department heads at the Bacolod City Government Center on Tuesday night.
Gasataya, who hosted a Christmas party for the Bacolod-based journalists on Tuesday, also doused speculations of an alleged brewing political rift between him and Benitez.
There is no rift, the solon stressed, adding that he talked regularly with the Mayor.
Speculation rose after Gasataya was absent from the stage when political leaders took the Asenso pledge and signed a covenant of unity and change on Saturday, at the Paglaum Sports Complex.
Benitez also confirmed that they were together for a snack before the event, and that the congressman sat in front when he spoke.
Gasataya noted that some people are trying to drive a wedge between him and the mayor, to start trouble.
Gasataya clarified that he left the activity after the mayor spoke, to attend to other important matters.
Aside from Gasataya, the pre-birthday celebration of Mayor Benitez was also attended by his son, Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez and other members of his family, as well provincial government officials led by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, among others.*
