VICTORIAS CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – For a long time in his life, Javier Benitez, mayor of this mill city was more of a “just the…”
The only son of wealthy businessman and Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee Benitez he was once considered” just the son of Albee.”
Later on, even after a successful but short run in the entertainment industry, he was also called “just the boyfriend of Inday Sue,” a reference to the female Negrense actor Sue Ramirez. who remains to be his real-life partner.
Mayor Javi, who at 29, is possibly the youngest aspirant in the province for a Congressional post, hopes that his first term as mayor has put those stereotypes to rest.
“Bata ni Congressman Albee (son of Congressman Albee), boyfriend ni Sue (boyfriend of Sue), bestfriend ni Sandro (presidential son and Ilocos Rep. Ferdinand Alexander Marcos),” he said.
In the past it was like that, “I can see that but I believe it was my first run in government and they have not seen what I am capable of so those views were valid.”
Now, however, Javi hopes that the past few years have shown people “what I am capable of as chief executive of Victorias City in delivering projects, programs and services.”
While opinions about Mayor Javi are largely divided along political lines, some of his political allies consider his performance and abilities as Victorias mayor as befitting of a congressman.
“As his father (Bacolod City Mayor Albee Benitez) and tito (former Third District Representative, now TESDA Director General Francisco ‘Kiko’ Benitez), he is not only gwapo (handsome) but also alam (intelligent),” Talisay City Vice Mayor Nicolai Jalandoni told DNX.
Jalandoni, a political ally of Benitez who will run under his ticket in the third district, said while Benitez is young, age does not matter but performance and abilities do.
“He will make a good congressman,” he added.
Benitez, whose bid for the congressional post was marked by an assembly attended by supporters from the cities of Silay, Talisay, Victorias, EB Magalona, and Murcia town, in an event called Padayon: The Benitez Legacy pointed out his run is not to make a name for himself.
“(This) is not necessarily to make a name for myself,” he tells DNX but hopes that his term as mayor here would demonstrate his dedication to public office.
Sime observers say Mayor Javi’s wearing of a uniform and an ID demonstrates his pride to, and seriousness in holding the position.
“I believe that professionalism should be in the public sector, the private sector, in any organization – professionalism, efficiency, innovation, those are the principles that I actually hold,” he says.
