By Glazyl Y. Masculino and Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD CITY – Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez announced the mass resignation of members from the Partido ng Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) in Negros Occidental yesterday.
Benitez stated that they have tendered and signed their “irrevocable resignation” following a meeting last Saturday.
“We have discussed that we will pass our resignation as a group and make our decision in the near future,” he added.
Almost 60 members, including eight mayors and five vice-mayors, have resigned from the party, which is led by former President Rodrigo Duterte.
“As PDP members, we’re not even invited to their gatherings or meetings, so what do you expect? It’s as if we did not heed their call,” Benitez said in a media interview after a Regional Development Council (RDC) consultative meeting with local chief executives, congressmen, and regional directors at the Ayala Malls Capitol Central.
Benitez mentioned that the group will collectively decide their next steps and which political party to join. “We will consider everything,” he added.
Last year, Benitez announced the creation of the Kilusan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP) political party, which he will lead.
Benitez earlier said that the KNP was formed to support President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s unifying platform.
He is currently waiting for the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to decide on the application for KNP to be accredited as a new political party.
He expressed hope that Comelec will grant the accreditation before the 2025 elections.
Benitez confirmed that PDP members in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City will resign en masse from the party.
He added that almost 60 members, including eight mayors, five vice-mayors, and 50 councilors, have resigned following their meeting on Saturday where they signed a manifesto.
“As PDP members, we were not even invited to their gatherings and meetings, so what do you expect? It’s not as if we did not heed their call,” Benitez said.
He mentioned that other members have also signified their intention to resign. “We have a manifesto, and more are still joining. Once it is completed, we will share it with you,” he said.
There are about 100 PDP members in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City.
PDP deputy secretary-general for the Visayas, Atty. Jayvee Hinlo, declined to comment on the reported resignations, saying, “None that I know of. I’m waiting for it to become official.”
Victorias City Vice Mayor Abelardo Bantug III and nine city councilors had previously resigned from PDP-Laban, citing lack of consultation from the party’s leadership.
“It appears that the leadership of PDP-Laban in Negros Occidental has overlooked the basic principle that an organization should promote inclusivity through ‘consultation before decision,’ not the other way around,” the group said in their resignation letter.
