Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez confirmed on Tuesday, November 29, that his spokesman, lawyer Lyzander “Bong” Dilag has resigned.
He officially resigned for health reasons effective immediately, he was not fired, Benitez said.
Benitez said he will act as his own spokesman.
The city government has not hired lawyer Jopet Sison, a TV presenter, and politician who was formerly assistant general manager of the National Housing Authority and president of National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation, Benitez said.
Sison ran for senator in the May polls and lost. There is a one year ban on hiring persons who ran for office, Benitez pointed out.
“He is a good friend and is helping and sharing his expertise in his field…we need all the help we can get,” Benitez said.
Sison said he is just helping the mayor out, he has been a good friend for a long time.
“I offered to help him out in the operations of the city and trying to solve the problems,” Sison said.
He has been with the local government of Quezon City for six years and can share his experience in local governance, and is also helping out in legal and housing matters, Sison said.*