House Speaker Romualdez files for re-election in Leyte

TACLOBAN CITY - House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez filed on Tuesday his certificate of candidacy (COC) with the support of key officials in Leyte province. Romualdez formalized his re-election bid at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) provincial office before noon, witnessed by Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla, whose clan had past political rift with the Speaker's family. He is running under the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats Party for a third and last term. "I filed as a candidate for congressman in the first district of Leyte. I am grateful for the support of our governor, vice governor, and mayors," Romualdez told reporters in a brief interview. This is the first time that Petilla and their allies in Leyte accompanied Romualdez in the filing of COC. Also present were Vice Governor Leonardo Javier and his wife, Leyte 2nd district Rep. Lolita Karen Javier, provincial board members from five legislative districts, and the majority of Leyte mayors led by league president Remedios Petilla of Palo town, the governor's mother. "We are supporting each other for the development of Leyte, and the Speaker being from Leyte means we are favored. Why go against it when it is beneficial to the people of Leyte?" Petilla told reporters. All incumbent mayors in Leyte are allies of Petilla, whose family has been ruling the province since 1992. Romualdez is the first candidate to file his COC at the Comelec provincial office. Before 11 a.m., he also accompanied his son, Ferdinand Martin Romualdez Jr., who filed his COC for Tacloban city councilor. The Speaker is now serving his second term as representative of Leyte's first congressional district. The district consists of Tacloban, the regional capital, and the adjacent towns of Alangalang, Babatngon, Palo, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Tanauan, and Tolosa. Source: Philippines News Agency