Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel “Javi” Benitez has requested the National Bureau of Investigation – Cybercrime Division to trace and identify the managers of a social media page for allegedly posting false information about him and accusing him and his father of being involved in the shooting incident in Brgy. Mambulac, Silay City, on Monday, May 12.
The Victorias mayor, in a post of his Facebook page, said “Silay Rising” had made “false and damaging statements” about him and his father on Election Day.
“Let me say this plainly: this is not just political noise, it is a serious and dangerous lie. I will not take it lightly”, Benitez said.
Benitez is running for congressman of the Third District of Negros Occidental while his father Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez is running as the congressman of Bacolod City.
“To those who seek to spread hate and misinformation, know this: we will not be silenced, we will not be distracted, and we will not back down from standing for truth and peace”, Benitez added.
He also posted the first and last pages of his formal letter to NBI requesting them to trace and identify those behind the “Silay Rising” page, calling it a troll account.
Silay Rising, in a Facebook post, responded to Benitez denying the mayor’s accusation saying he was just called out as he was running as a congressman.
“You weren’t accused. You were called out”, Silay Rising said, adding “This isn’t about your name Javi. It’s about the people. It’s about a grieving city. It’s about justice”.
“It’s a position of public accountability. And if you can’t stand the public asking you hard questions, maybe you’re in the wrong race”, the statement added.*