I’m now at ‘pre-departure area,’ says Tacloban mayor

TACLOBAN CITY — "My political career will now depend on my health condition."

Thus said City Mayor Alfredo "Bejo" Romualdez, younger brother of former First Lady Imelda Romualdez-Marcos, who admitted that his doctors are closely monitoring his health.

Bejo described himself to be at the "pre-departure area" and that he would spend the remaining days of his second term in pursuing development projects he had promised when he ran for mayor in 1998.

Last April, Bejo underwent a quintuplet heart bypass just as the Sandiganbayan issued a warrant of arrest for him in connection with a graft case.

He said that his son, former first district Rep. Alfred Romualdez, told him during a recent family reunion to leave politics and just attend to his businesses.

Bejo quoted his son as saying that he (Alfred) is no longer interested in Congress even if he wins his electoral protest pending with the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Marcos, who was here to attend the Leyte Landing’s 58th anniversary, said she was ready to forget politics.

"My plan is always to give, to serve and to love my country," she said.

"So long as there is injustice committed against us, I will be there," she added.

A local daily said former US ambassador and Leyte governor Benjamin Romualdez is eyeing provincial board member Arturo Larrazabal as his running mate in the gubernatorial elections in 2004.