Bashing Albee Benitez

By Modesto P. Sa-onoy

The verbal abuse against former Third District Congressman Albee Benitez has begun although he is not yet a candidate for mayor of Bacolod. Of course, he has transferred his official residence to Bacolod and there are tarpaulins around the city asking, “Run Albee Run.” He has also gone to hear Mass at the San Sebastian Cathedral and led a throng on a walk to the nearby Bacolod Comelec office to officially transfer his voter’s registration to the city.

Added to this is the report that he had gone out into the public markets and did the usual handshaking with the hoi polloi and meeting with several politicians and election operators in the city. There was a gathering last week at Nature’s Village where the mayors of the province urged him to run for Bacolod’s mayor.

Their concern is the need to “coordinate the programs of the province with that of Bacolod” an insinuation that Bacolod does not fully cooperate with the province when there is a need for unified action. Whether true or not the fact is that this is the sentiment of the local governments under the province.

We have a queer situation where the capital city, Bacolod, is autonomous to and segregated from the province. Ironically, Bacolod as the capital of the province is expected to at least coordinate with the province on mutual concerns. But if we believe the other cities and towns, coordination is missing or inadequate as to create fissures. This situation could be the reason that there are plans to transfer the Capitol to the adjacent Talisay City.

Despite all these moves, Albee Benitez is not officially a candidate for mayor of Bacolod. We will know soon enough but until he has declared his intention or has filed his certificate of candidacy to challenge the occupant of the Bacolod City Government Center, he is not a candidate.

One can thus say it is premature for the mouthpieces of Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia to attack Benitez using language that turns off people. Not everyone in this city, or anywhere enjoys gut and under-the-belly language. It does entertain but to a point irritates.

In this sense, some people will simply not vote for Leonardia because he has given permission, if not order and encouragement to his media people, radiomen particularly to conduct a political campaign using crude or rude language. It does not befit a person who relishes in being called, honorable.

Many educated people prefer that the political campaign is conducted in a civilized manner, and dealing with issues that will expose the competence and behavior of a candidate for public office, or lack of it.

Uncouth and offensive language may thrill people with that same frame of mind but most voters are not in that league. Indeed, a political platform worth listening to and accepting adheres to decency in words and in deeds.

So why is Leonardia tolerating this kind of propaganda campaign? Does he fear Benitez’s entry in Bacolod? What happens when later Benitez radio people would also lambast him in a quid pro quo manner? This is a game that two sides can play. Will we not then have a circus and name-calling instead of an intelligent discussion of issues and then make a wise decision on whom to vote for?

Already the reaction to this Leonardia bad-mouthing campaign is creating a negative effect. That his people would resort to this repugnant language makes people suspect the Leonardia is panicking. Indeed, one turns to underhanded means and verbal abuse when on the verge of despair. Leonardia, a lawyer knows that resorting an ad hominem argument reveals a weakness of thought and evidence.

It cannot be denied that Albee Benitez is a formidable opponent that many see as the one who will discharge Leonardia from the Government Center. There is a lot of discontent in Leonardia and his administration, the major issue being corruption to an unimaginable degree. That he had been exonerated by the Ombudsman does not convince people he is honest. Why? Because the system itself is not honest, decisions can be bought. Worse Leonardia had installed a dishonest system in his governance.

This is just a starter.