Candidates continue to file CoCs at Comelec-Leyte

TACLOBAN CITY—On-going political posturing in the province of Leyte shows candidates for provincial governor and representative of the first congressional district will possibly be running unopposed.

The derby that is supposed to be watched in Leyte is the fight between two powerful political clans of the Petillas and the Romualdezes.

Businessman Leopoldo Dominico “Mic” L. Petilla and his provincial slate under the Liberal Party (LP) yesterday filed his COC at the provincial Commission on Elections office for governor.

The Romualdezes, however, has not yet fielded their gubernatorial candidate. In the past months, Chamber of Mines of the Philippines President Benjamin Philip G. Romualdez has been roaming the province trying to rebuild old political ties and talking with a new breed of politicians for possible tie-up.

Last Monday, Rep. Ferdinand Martin “FM” G. Romualdez (1st district, Leyte), who is running under Lakas-CMD (Lakas ng Tao-Christian Muslim Democrats) renewed his bid for re-election.

Incumbent Governor Carlos Jericho L. Petilla said he will decide until Oct. 5 whether he would pursue plans of running for representative of Leyte’s first district.

“Let us wait until Oct. 5…because if you ask me, and if you ask the other side (Romualdezes), they will have the same answer,” Gov. Petilla told reporters.

But Gov. Petilla clarified there has been no arrangements made between his family and the Romualdezes.

“No agreement has ever been made and no one from our family and neither from them have initiated any moves on that matter,” Petilla said.

Petilla added his conversations with the Romualdezes have only been rare chances, rather impersonal and has nothing to do with politics.

“I have been open in the past. If no Romualdez will run for governor, then I will not run for congressman,” Petilla said.

In the 2007 elections, the Petillas made arrangements upon the request of then President Gloria M. Arroyo to give up the re-election bid of then representative and now Palo town mayor Remedios L. Petilla in favor of a Romualdez [now Rep. Ferdinand Martin].

Yesterday saw more candidates filing for various provincial posts in Leyte.

Rep. Jose Carlos L. Cari (5th district, Leyte), accompanied by his mother, Baybay City Mayor Carmen Cari, has filed for his re-election bid. Also present was his cousin, Leyte Gov. Jericho Petilla.

Ormoc city mayor Eric C. Codilla also filed his COC for representative of Leyte’s fourth district. He was escorted to the Comelec office by his wife, parents and siblings including reelectionist Mayor Elmer Codilla of Kananga as well as supporters.

Three-term Leyte vice-governor Ma. Mimietta S. Bagulaya submitted her CoC for board member of Leyte’s third district.

Expected to file their COCs today, among others, is Board Member Bernard Jonathan M. Remandaban who will challenge Rep. Andres D. Salvacion, Jr. in the 3rd district of Leyte.

In Northern Samar, Governor Paul R. Daza and his entire LP slate were the first to file at the local Comelec office in Catarman yesterday. Cong. Raul Daza has reportedly filed for reelection. The group of Rep. Emil L. Ong (2nd district, Northern Samar) are expected to file today. (REYAN L. ARINTO)

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Posted by lsde on Oct 4 2012. Filed under Second Story. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.