Rep. Albee Benitez Explains Support for Mayor Duterte

The leader of the Visayan Bloc of lawmakers, Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez or simply Congressman Albee Benitez (Negros Occidental, 3rd District) explained the main reasons why he and his group is now supporting the administration of Mayor Rody Duterte and his chosen bet for Speaker of the Lower House, Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez.

Rep. Ben Evardone (Eastern Samar), Rep. Albee Benitez and Senator-Elect (Rep.) Sherwin Gatchalian
Rep. Ben Evardone, Rep. Albee Benitez & Sen. (Rep.) Sherwin Gatchalian

Congressman Benitez and his group, Visayan Bloc, signed a manifesto of support for the speakership bid of Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez. The incoming House Speaker is a member of PDP-Laban, the party of Pres. Rody Duterte.

According to Cong. Albee Benitez, they are supporting Alvarez’s bid for the speakership “to give a free hand to the incoming administration to push its legislative agenda,” Benitez told some local media in Davao City.

We, the members of the Visayan Bloc, extend our cooperation and support to the incoming Duterte administration in its pursuit for the development and enactment of pro-people and developmental policies and programs for our country,” their manifesto states.

Aside from Rep. Benitez, the other signatories are the following:

1. Rep. Jerry Treñas (Iloilo City, Lone District)
2. Richard Garin (Iloilo, 1 st District)
3. Arcadio Gorriceta (Iloilo, 2 nd District)
4. Arthur Defensor Jr. (Iloilo, 3 rd District)
5. Ferjenel Biron (Iloilo, 4 th District)
6. Raul Boboy Tupas (Iloilo, 5 th District)
7. Paulo Javier (Antique)
8. Lucille Nava (Guimaras)
9. Aileen Radaza (Cebu, Lapu-Lapu City lone district)
10. Gerard Gullas (Cebu, 1 st District)
11. Henry Ong (Leyte, 2 nd District)
12. Lucy Torres Gomez (Leyte, 4 th District)
13. Rene Relampagos (Bohol, 1 st District)
14. Cesar Sarmiento (Catanduanes)
15. Ben Evardone (Eastern Samar)
16. Sharon Garin (Aambis-Owa party-list)

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