In Eastern Visayas: 2016 election sees clash of same political clans Miriam Garcia Desacada

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — The same faces from the usual competing political clans, but only running for different elective posts, have beaten the deadline and filed their respective candidacies for the 2016 elections.

In Leyte’s first congressional district, Yedda Marie Mendoza Romualdez, is the candidate of LAKAS-NUCD in lieu of her husband, Ferdinand Martin, who is now running for senator. She will be contested by lawyer Fiel Clemencio, independent, who lost to Martin in the 2010 elections.

For the Leyte governorship, re-electionist Governor Dominic Petilla of the Liberal Party will be opposed by a political neophyte Philip Nieto, professor of the East Visayas State University, while his cousin, Vice Governor Carlo Loreto bids for re-election without an opponent.

In Tacloban City, Councilor Cristina Romualdez took her bid for the mayoralty post against Councilor Neil Glova. She has no runningmate, as incumbent Vice Mayor Zambo Yaokasin is going for re-election as an independent. Glova also has no vice mayoralty bet.

In Baybay City, it will be a rematch between the Cari and Galenzoga families. Re-electionist Mayor Carmen Cari is pitted anew against Malot Galenzoga-Baligod, who the Cari matriarch defeated in the 2013 polls. Carmen’s son, re-electionist Representative Boying Cari (4th district, Leyte), will slug it out with Malot’s elder brother, Marciano Jose Galenzoga.

For Leyte’s 2nd congressional district, re-electionist Rep. Sergio Apostol is running against Garry Ramos of Dulag, Leyte and businessman Henry Ong, brother of Carigara town Mayor Eduardo Ong. Apostol’s wife Ebbie, who lost to the mayor in 2013, is now gunning for a seat in the Leyte Provincial Board.

The provincial police command had observed a possible break of intense political rivalry in the 3rd district of Leyte. Incumbent Mayor Kristina Salvacion David of Leyte town, will be running for Congress under the LP against Ching Veloso, retired justice of the Court of Appeals. Kristina swaps post with her father, last-termer Rep. Andy Salvacion who is bidding for Leyte’s town mayoralty.

In Southern Leyte province, the same faces dominate the 2016 field: Re-electionists Gov. Roger “Oging” Mercado and Vice Gov. Sheffered Lino Tan, and Rep. Damian Mercado.

In Biliran province, members of the Espina family have also filed their COCs the other day, with Gov. Gerry Espina of LP vying for re-election against NPC’s Susan Henson, former president of the Naval State University. His elder brother, LP’s Rep. Roger Espina bid for re-election against Naval Mayor Susan Parilla of NPC.

Kawayan (Biliran) town Mayor Rudy Espina is also seeking for re-election, and his son, Roger Gerard Espina is running for mayor of Naval town against Annie Limpiado.

In Eastern Samar province, Nonoy Libanan is now a candidate for governor against incumbent Conrado Nicart, while Analiza Gonzales decided to fight re-electionist Rep. Ben Evardone of the LP. Analiza is the wife of re-electionist Guiuan town Mayor Christopher Sheen Gonzales, while Libanan’s wife had also filed her COC for mayor of Dolores town.

In Northern Samar, Gov. Jose Ong’s re-election bid is contested by Monsignor Walter Serbito, chaplain of the University of Eastern Philippines, Emiliano de Asis of UNA and businessman Reynaldo Nietos.

For the 1st district, incumbent Rep. Harlene Abyon is fighting against veteran Raul Daza of LP, while in the 2nd district, LP’s Rep. Emil Ong was reportedly running unopposed in his re-election bid. (FREEMAN)