The powerful Visayas bloc headed by Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo “Albee” Benitez, a former member of the Liberal Party of the philippines is set to join presumptive President-elect Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s emerging coalition headed by PDP-Laban bet Rep. Bebot Alvarez. During the past few days, Rep. Albee Benitez was reportedly one of those lawmakers who eyed as one of the candidate for House speakership againts Rep. Belmonte and Rep. Alvarez.
The PDP-Laban coalition in the Lower House are composed of some well-known political parties including the Nacionalista Party, Lakas-CMD, Nationalist People’s Coalition, Partylist Coalition and National Unity Party.
Incumbent House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. is losing power swiftly and drastically as more than dozen of its members from the Visayas have abandoned the Liberal Party as they set to join the camp of the presumptive President Rody Duterte.
The leader of the Visayas bloc, Rep. Benitez was the lead signatory among members of his group as a signed of the declaratio of support for incoming Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez in the race for the Speaker of the House of Representative in the 17th congress.
Rep. Benitez who ran as independent during the last election, he was aiming for at least 45 names on the declaration. At least 30 lawmakers from the Visayas Region, third of whom were from the Liberal Party signed the declaration of suppor to Rep. Bebot Alvarez.
“We, the members of the Visayas bloc, extend our cooperation and support to the incoming Duterte administration in its pursuit [of] development and enactment of propeople and developmental policies and programs for our country,” said the declaration signed by 30 lawmakers from the Visayas region.
Congressman Albee Benitez is also considered as one of richest congressman during the past few years in the Lower House based on his official Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Before his re-election as representative of the 3rd District of Negros Occidental, he reportedly aimed for a higher office planning to run as senator but changed his decision later.