by Miriam G. Desacada
Tacloban City–The results of the concluded May 12 national and local elections showed a clear pattern among winners: the entrenched power and winnability of most incumbents—notably dynasties—particularly in Eastern Visayas.
There were however areas in the region where some daring politicians were able to buck the trend, showing a semblance of vulnerability of incumbents and political families.
Foremost among the winning incumbents, who faced equally powerful opponents in a closely fought race were Leyte 4th district Representative Richard “Goma” Gomez and his political team, the Ormoc Development Team (ODT) headed by his wife, Mayor Lucy.
Lucy got reelected with 89,123 votes against 47,994 of Violy Codilla. Lucy’s tandem Toto Locsin got 82,733 votes to clinch the city’s vice mayoralty against Roiland Villasencio’s 50,764. Lucy shed tears of joy during the proclamation event of her victory.
Lucy and Goma’s ODT members swept the city’s councilors slate in an awesome show of force (from 1-10): Ari Larrazabal, Edmund Kierulf, Tommy Serafica, Jasper Lucero, Perok Rodriguez, Caren Torres-Rama, Doc Gerry Penserga, Burt Pades, Kia Mercadal, and Lalaine Marcos.
Goma himself, who was expected by some observers to be defeated, edged out the veteran lawyer and former 3rd district congressman, Vicente “Ching” Veloso, to break the latter’s invincibility aura. Gomez (who only got two mayors backing him in the district) got 171,113 votes, while Ching had 129,231 votes.
Gomez, to earn re-election, won in three towns (Isabel, Kananga, and Merida) and in the vote-rich Ormoc City; Ching won in two towns only (Matag-ob and Palompon).
The 4th district (Leyte) battle went on like this: In Isabel town, Bennet Pongos (of Gomez team) defeated the incumbent mayor Dodo Cordeño (Ching’s man), while Lucy’s brother Matt Torres got reelected as Kananga mayor against Weng Codilla.
In Matag-ob, incumbent Bernie Tacoy was reelected (Ching wins); in Merida, incumbent Rolando Villasencio also won but failed to let Ching win there. In Palompon, political veteran Ramon Onate (Ching’s) did not win, but his daughter, DM, won handily against Georgina Arevalo (of Gomez team), as Ching also won here.
The mayoralty bets of both Gomez and Ching were however defeated convincingly by neophyte, a former self-confessed drug personality Kerwin Espinosa who is now the mayor of Albuera.
Ching’s daughter, incumbent Anna Veloso-Tuazon got reelected for Leyte’s 3rd congressional seat, and incumbent Chinggay Veloso retained her seat as Provincial Board member (3rd district), along with other incumbents from 1st to 5th districts.
For his defeat in the hands of Gomez, Ching issued this statement: “We fought a good fight fueled by passion, hope, and will nga mosilbi sa katawhan sa 4th district. We wholeheartedly respect the results of the elections, and we congratulate the winners.
I am deeply grateful to everyone who supported and believed in our campaign. This has strengthened my resolve to live a life for others. Daghan kaayong salamat sa inyong gipakita nga gugma ug suporta. May God bless everyone.”
In the 5th district, it was a walkover for the Cari dynasty, with each member retaining incumbent posts over opponents. For congress, Carl Cari got reelected against popular lawyer Levito Baligod; for mayor, Boying Cari got another term against Levi’s wife, Malot Galenzoga-Baligod, while Mike Cari and cousin Carlo Loreto won reelection.
Loreto’s cousins, Icot Petilla retained governorship, as well as Sandy Javier who went on unopposed for vice governor. Sandy’s wife Loreta Karen was reelected for Leyte’s 2nd district congressional seat. Incumbent mayors of the 5th and 2nd districts also clinched their seats anew for another term.
In Tacloban City and Leyte’s 1st district, it was practically a Romualdez spectacle, with Alfred routing his opponent, Michael dela Cruz, for his reelection to the city’s helm. His son, Ray, won handily as city vice mayor, while his other son Marty placed 4th councilor, failing to comply the family’s plan of dominance in the city’s future political horizon.
The plan was, if Alfred got appointed as DILG secretary, Ray will take over as city mayor, and Marty, as 1st councilor will assume the vice mayoral seat. This matter was yet unconfirmed though but possible.
The Chua brothers, Edward and Edmund, were reelected by clinching top spots for city councilors, followed by veteran incumbent, lawyer Jerry Uy, and then Marty whose uncle Martin Romualdez winning unopposed the congressional seat (1st district) onward for another speakership position in the House, and a possible run for the country’s presidency in 2028. —-Miriam G. Desacada