NEGROS Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson on Friday, July 16, 2021, said the opposition to the transfer of former Third District congressman Alfredo Benitez's voter registration is already expected.
According to Lacson, he leaves the decision to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to decide whether Benitez's move is lawful or grounds for immediate disqualification if he ever decides to run as mayor of Bacolod City for 2022.
"Personally, it is to be expected that there would be opposition," Lacson said.
Benitez, who is the governor's Consultant for Trade and Investments, transferred his voter registration from Victorias City to Bacolod City in April.
Although Benitez has yet to make his pronouncements he has been going around the city giving assistance and holding meetings with some barangay leaders along with his close political allies and some politicians in the city, bolstering reports that he will be challenging incumbent Mayor Evelio Leonardia who is seeking reelection for his last term.
In a press conference late Wednesday afternoon, Lawyers Jose Jireh Alimon and Marcus Aurelian Vaflor, who represents three petitioners who are seeking a disqualification case against Benitez, pointed out the election law residency is the same as the domicile and they have proof that Benitez has lost his domicile.
The hearing of the opposition is set by Comelec-Bacolod on Monday, July 19.