Same old pols to slug it out in May 2010 polls in EV

(This news iten appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

TACLOBAN CITY — Same old politicians are to slug it out in next year’s elections in Eastern Visayas. They are either incumbents or have been trounced by their rivals during the 2007 elections.

In Leyte, Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla of the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD is sure to finish his third and last term as no one challenged him for the post once held by his mother, Remedios, for nine years and by his father Leopoldo, for a single term.

Leyte Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (Lakas-Kampi-CMD) will have an old rival, Feliciano Clemencio of the Liberal Party, for his bid for another term for the first district.
Award-winning actor Richard Gomez (Liberal Party) will challenge the hold of the Codillas in the fourth district. The namesake of outgoing Rep. Eufrocino Codilla Sr., will try to take the post held by his father for nine years.

Former presidential legal adviser Sergio Apostol will have Tabontabon Mayor Rustico Balderian of the Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas as his main opponent for Leyte’s second congressional district.

In Samar, outgoing Governor Milagrosa Tan decided to run for Congress to represent the province’s second district with rival, Catalino Figueroa (PMP) as one of her four opponents.

The daughter of the controversial governor, Sharee Ann, the incumbent congressional representative of the district, filed her certificate of candidacy for governor under the banner of the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD with incumbent Vice Governor Jesus Redaja and Board Member Casilda “Ida” Lim among her opponents.

For the first district of the province, outgoing Rep. Reynaldo Uy (Lakas-Kampi-CMD) endorsed Calbayog Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento to take the post he held for nine years. Uy filed his certificate of candidacy for mayor of Calbayog. Sarmiento, meantime, will have an old rival, Rodolfo Tuazon (NP) as an opponent.

Biliran outgoing Governor Rogelio Espina (NP) is to challenge incumbent congressman Glenn Chong, who is seeking for his possible second term under the banner of Lakas-Kampi-CMD. Espina’s younger brother, Gerry Boy, Jr. is seeking the governorship with the father of Chong, Charlie, as his main challenger. Both gubernatorial candidates are running as independents.

In Southern Leyte, it’s a return bout between incumbent Governor Damian Mercado, seeking for his second term, against Marisa Lerias (NPC) whom the ruling party bet defeated in 2007 elections. For the lone congressional district of the province, Rep. Roger Mercado has former congressman, Aniceto Saludo (NP) as his main challenger.

In the case of Eastern Samar, it’s a free for all as the incumbent Governor, Ben Evardone of Lakas-Kampi-CMD opted to run for Congress though he is eligible for another term. Evardone will slug it out with incumbent and rival, Rep.Teodulo Coquilla, also of Lakas-Kampi, CMD. A neophyte, lawyer Raymond Apita, once an aide of Evardone, complete the congressional contest of the province.

Among the five gubernatorial candidates is incumbent Vice Governor Leander Geli of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP).

In Northern Samar, third-termer Governor Raul Daza of the Liberal Party fielded his son, Representative Paul Daza as a possible successor for the post he held for nine years now. He will have former Representative Harlin Abayon of the ruling party as his main challenger.

The outgoing governor is to run for the first congressional district, once held by his son Paul, with Francisco Rosales of the administration party as his only opponent.

In the second congressional district, the brother of slain Catholic priest, Cecilio Lucero, Antonio, will challenge incumbent congressman Emil Ong of the ruling party. Antonio is the incumbent vice governor and is also part of the Liberal Party. (By JOEY A. GABIETA, Staff writer)