House Speaker must make ‘supreme sacrifice’— Rep. Benitez

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY — Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Albee Benitez said the controversy surrounding flood control projects has intensified public distrust and renewed calls for a change in the House of Representatives’ leadership.

Benitez told reporters over the weekend that even Rep. Toby Tiangco had to go to the Senate to reveal what he knew about the issue, underscoring the seriousness of the situation.

“It has come to a point where we really need to change the House leadership because of the distrust of the general public,” he stressed.

On Tiangco’s reported endorsement of him as the next speaker, Benitez clarified that such a decision should not rest on one lawmaker alone.

“It should be a collegiate decision—whatever the majority of our colleagues in Congress want, that is what we should follow; but we need a person who can cleanse the House, someone with integrity and credibility who can hold people accountable and, if possible, recover what has been lost,” he explained.

Benitez acknowledged that Filipinos have been vocal about their discontent with Congress.

“You can see it on social media; citizens of the Philippines are the ones bringing out what they know,” he said.

Pressed on whether he was open to being pushed for the speakership, Benitez admitted he had reservations.

“To be honest, I don’t think it is the right time for me; the situation now is that people look at Congress as if it’s full of thieves,” he added.

Benitez lamented that current lawmakers feel the pressure amid the growing scandals.

He said he feels it is the wrong time for him to be part of the 20th Congress because this is when all the scandals came out.

Still, he emphasized the urgent need for reform in the legislature.

“Somebody—not necessarily me—has to cleanse the dirt being thrown at Congress and turn around the public image of our members,” he added.

While some lawmakers have remained silent “for their own reasons,” Benitez said many others share the sentiment for change.

“I think it is about time; Congress needs an overhaul,” he declared.

On calls for Speaker Martin Romualdez to step down, Benitez said, “I think it is just a matter of time; his position is no longer tenable.”

Benitez added, “He has to make a supreme sacrifice.”