Negros Occidental Provincial Economic Consultant and Bacolod City mayoralty aspirant Alfredo "Albee" Benitez has denied reports that two of his close allies quarreled and almost engaged in a fist fight.
"I am not aware of such a report and it never happened,” Benitez said referring to the alleged conflict between Abang Lingkod Party-list Representative Joseph Paduano and E.B.Magalona Mayor Marvin Malacon.
The two allegedly argued during a meeting of Team Asenso in Barangay Mandalagan in Bacolod City Friday last week, particularly as to who really the campaign manager of Benitez is.
“There's no truth to that,” the former solon stressed on the sidelines of the launching of pediatric vaccination at the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City yesterday, February 14.
He explained that Paduano's pictures are not included in their tarpaulins and other campaign materials since February 8 when the campaign for national candidates including partylists started.
Benitez added that if they include the pictures of Paduano in their tarpaulins, their campaign posters may become oversize which is not allowed under the guidelines of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
He said that Malacon supports his mayoralty bid just like other mayors in the province.
Most of the mayors in the province had even signed a manifesto of support for Benitez's bid as mayor of Bacolod City challenging incumbent mayor Evelio Leonardia.
Malacon, for his part, also denied the allegation that he almost had a fist fight with Paduano.*