By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD CITY – Will Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez become the next Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)?
Speculation about this possibility circulated on social media this week following reports that DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos might resign to run for a Senate seat in the 2025 midterm elections.
Atty. Caesar Distrito, spokesperson for Mayor Benitez, neither confirmed nor denied the report.
Distrito told the Daily Guardian on Thursday that since the beginning of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration, Benitez had been offered a Cabinet position.
However, Benitez declined, citing his commitment to serve Bacolodnons as mayor until his term ends in 2025.
Distrito emphasized that if the DILG post is offered to Benitez, the mayor will carefully consider all factors before making a decision.
His choice will be guided by what is best for Bacolod and its residents, Distrito added.
Earlier, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson stated that he has no inside information regarding Benitez being considered for the DILG secretary position should Abalos join the senatorial race next year.
However, Lacson noted that it is “possible.”
Lacson also revealed that Secretary Abalos is intent on running for the Senate in the 2025 elections, which would require him to resign from his current position.
Mayor Benitez has not issued a statement regarding these reports and earlier told the media that he has not yet made any decisions concerning the 2025 elections.
He outlined several options, including seeking re-election, switching positions with Bacolod Representative Greg Gasataya, running for Congress, running for senator, accepting a Cabinet position, or stepping away from politics.
