Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Thursday, August 10, that Love Negros fully supports Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez amid accusations hurled by suspended Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. (Neg. Or., 3rd District).
“As leader of the Love Negros we fully support Mayor Albee Benitez. We believe in his integrity and we totally believe him when he said he will never break the law,” Lacson said.
Lacson said he believes even the United Negros Alliance members are in total support of Benitez.
Benitez said on Monday that he will never break the law and will leave the claims hurled by Teves against him to the proper authorities to handle.
Teves, in a video circulating on social media, said since he along with his friends and children are being included by the administration in its terror group list, he is challenging the leadership to include Benitez, whom he called his friend, boss and business partner.
He said Benitez, who owes him money, was ignoring him.
Benitez pointed out that he is bound by certain laws, citing the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012 that specifies that any person, association, company directly or directly dealing with designated terrorists will be subject to certain penalties, which includes reclusion perpetua.
Benitez also denied that he is a business partner of Teves.
“There is no documentation that I see that will link us there. Let him say that and I will bring it to the proper forum. As far as I’m concerned there are laws guiding this kind of situation and that is what I will stick to,” Benitez said.
Teves has been tagged by the national government as a terrorist and linked to killing of Gov. Roel Degamo and several others in Negros Oriental.
He has denied the accusations and refuses to return to the country.*