“I don’t know.”

Thus said Bacolod City Rep. Albee Benitez when asked if his decision to abstain from voting for Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez as House speakers would impact services for this highly-urbanized city.

Benitez has outlined key development plans for this city, including lobbying for national funding to construct a coastal road, pump gates, and floodgates to ease flooding, expanding the Bacolod City Comprehensive Health Program (BacCHP) nationwide, and streamlining bureaucracy to accelerate government project implementation.

Speaking to the media on Monday, July 28, Benitez said that it is up to the present administration to ensure that services are given to the intended beneficiaries.

His abstention from voting for Romualdez stemmed from “controversies” under the House leadership.

“There were decisions that should not have been made. I felt that it has to be rectified,” Benitez said, adding that elections happen before the actual election.

While most lawmakers voted in favor of maintaining the current leadership, Benitez emphasized that each member has their own discretion. “For me, there are decisions by the House leadership that I am not in favor of,” he said.

Though his name previously floated as a potential candidate for House Speaker, Benitez denied having any such intentions or taking steps toward the position.

He said his name likely surfaced due to sentiments of some House members who felt unable to voice their concerns. “Maybe others have their own reasons, sentiments deep inside, but could not speak out,” he said.