This was the message of Victorias City mayoralty candidate Javier Miguel “Javi” Benitez to those he considers detractors, stressing that he will continue praying for them.
“To those who are planning to destroy my good intentions for Victorias City, I’m sorry but you failed,” Benitez said, adding that he will focus on connecting to the people of the northern Negros Occidental locality in the remaining days of the campaign period.
Benitez, in his speech during his team’s grand rally at the city’s public plaza on Tuesday, April 26, said he will not go down to the level of negative campaigning and desperate acts.
Benitez recently hogged the headlines following the complaint of Pacifico “Jun” Adorio, son of Councilor Virginia Adorio, claiming that the former asked him to kneel and kiss his hands.
The elder Adorio is under Benitez’s Team Asenso Victoriahanon ticket.
True to her words that she will stay under Benitez’s ticket, she joined the grand rally dubbed “Sidlak Malihaw.”
Quoting the statement of his father, former Third District representative Alfredo “Albee” Benitez, the actor-turned-politician said, “Let’s minimize politics and maximize governance.”
Asked about his reaction to the statements of some people that he is inexperienced in running a government, the young Benitez said that it’s a “parochial mentality and short-sighted.”
“If you want to develop a certain place, and you are ready to serve, it is not important, if you are a native or not (rather), what can you do to help,” he said.
He added that when one has good intentions, the best time to act is now “while we are able and available.”
“When we look back someday, people will know who is on the bad side of history, and my intention is to remain on the good side,” Benitez said.
For his part, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson urged Victorias City residents not to believe in any of the black propaganda hurled against the younger Benitez.
“It is not about the age, but the youth of Javi will bring fresh ideas of governance to Victorias City,” Lacson, who reiterated his support for the younger Benitez as mayor, said.
The younger Benitez vowed to bring change to Victorias City by providing more opportunities and improved services to his fellow Victoriahanons, stressing that giving service for the city runs in his blood.
He also assured Victoriahanons that he will bring a dignified human settlement for all, proper zoning through urban planning, measures to mitigate and prevent natural disasters such as flooding, economic opportunities and jobs to fight poverty and hunger, as well as putting priority on education and further strengthening universal health care.
Aside from Lacson, Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, Third District Representative Jose Francisco Benitez and his older brother, Albee, Abang Lingkod Party-list second nominee, Victorias City Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca, Board Members Manuel Frederick Ko and Andrew Montelibano also joined the political rally.