NEGROS Oriental Third District Representative Arnolfo Teves Jr. revealed plans of running for senator with Negros Occidental Third District Representative Alfredo Benitez and Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. as his potential running mates if Federalism pushes through as well as the creation of Negrosanon Federated Region (NFR).
Teves said he is happy that NFR is included in the draft of the Consultative Committee (ConCom) in the proposed 17+1 Federated Regions under the federal form of government.
"After we lost the Negros Island Region, there's hope again because of the ConCom's inclusion of NFR," Teves said.
He said he is also happy to learn that senators will be elected per Federated Region.
"That has been my proposal ever since, to have better representation senators should be elected on a regional level. My proposal is to have two senators per region but they propose to have three per Federated Region and me, I am a potential.
Not that I'm vying but if the people want me I will. Anyway, you've seen me serve in Congress. This is my first term but what I'm trying to drive at is you see me work. It's not that I wanted it because I want to run but there will be a better representation. Given the chance, I'll run for senator for the region. For our senator here. I am from Oriental but I have so many friends here from north to south. My father has many friends in cockfighting and my friends in politics, too," Teves said.
Because there will be three senators per Federated Region, Teves said that Benitez would be a potential senator along with Marañon.
Teves also said he believes that the NFR will be approved.
He pointed out that the NIR was abolished by President Rodrigo Duterte because it was not done by legislation.
This time he said, NFR will be done through legislation and that the Visayan Bloc, which is lead by Benitez, will support it.
"If it's already in the draft, there's no need for endorsement. We will only do support," Teves said.