Former Rep. Jose Carlos Lacson (Lakas, CMD) is challenging first-termer Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (LP), the fourth richest man in the House of Representatives, for the third congressional seat of Negros Occidental that he had held for 20 years.
Lacson, who filed his Certificate of Candidacy at 8:55 a.m. yesterday, said he is not aligned with the groups of Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. or Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez Jr., who are both running for governor. He had decided to run even before their break-up, Lacson said.
Lacson, who was also a mayor of Talisay City for eight years, said he is alone in his bid for congress, but he is confident that his support will come from the people of the third district.
Asked if he was not intimidated by the wealth of his opponent, Lacson said “I do not think about it because I feel it’s an insult to our people in the third district. I also fought moneyed candidates before and the people sustained me”.
He laughed off rumors that he had been offered P50 million not to run for congressman of the third district, but admitted that Benitez is a very formidable opponent.
Benitez has been a good congressman for whom he has a high regard, Lacson said.
But he is running to give the people of the third district a chance to have a choice, Lacson said.
“I have served that district for the last 20 years and have developed some kind of rapport with the people. They know what I did. My only hope is they might decide to help me this coming election,” Lacson said.
1ST DISTRICT
Ernesto Librando also filed his CoC for congressman of the first district of Negros Occidental under the Aksyon Demokratiko Party at the provincial COMELEC office yesterday afternoon.
It will be Librando’s third challenge for the post against Rep. Julio Ledesma IV, who is expected to file his CoC on Friday.
Librando ran for congressman of the first district as an independent in 2010 and in 2007, under the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino.*CPG back
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