Benitez 'honored' if selected as Education chief

Benitez 'honored' if selected as Education chief

MANILA, Philippines — Negros Occidental 3rd District Rep. Jose Francisco "Kiko" Benitez said that he would be "honored" if selected as Education secretary under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

His statement comes after the Coordinating Council of Private Education Associations (Cocopea) named him and four others as possible replacements for Vice President Sara Duterte, who is scheduled to leave her post on July 19.

Aside from Benitez, other names that the group has recommended to the President were Sen. Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara, Education Undersecretary for Curriculum and Teaching Gina Gonong, Department of Education National Capital Region Director Jocelyn Andaya, and Catholic Educational Association of Caceres President Fr. Wilmer Joseph Tria.

In a statement on his official Facebook page, Benitez thanked local officials in Negros Occidental, his colleagues in the House of Representatives and friends and partners in the education sector for the trust and support in endorsing him as the next education secretary.

He added that he trusted Marcos' judgment in choosing who will lead what he called an "extremely important" agency.

"If selected, I would be honored to serve and do the best I can. But even if I am not selected, I will continue to do my part, supporting whomever the president entrusts with this tremendous task. We must all work together to fix the country's education crisis," Benitez said.

Benitez, a member of the prestigious clan that founded the Philippine Women's University, is on his second term as representative of the Third District of Negros Occidental.