Political clans still dominate 2025 polls in Eastern Visayas
TACLOBAN CITY—Scions of old political clans in Eastern Visayas are expected to dominate in next year’s midterm elections.
As of Friday, many of the region’s political heavyweights already filed their certificates of candidacy (COCs), reaffirming their intent to maintain dominance in their strongholds.
These include Speaker Martin Romualdez, who is seeking his third and final term as the representative of Leyte’s first congressional district; his son Martin Jr., for a seat in the Tacloban City council; and nephew, Raymund who is running for vice mayor in Tacloban.
Raymund’s father, incumbent Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez, was also expected to file his COC for reelection.
The Romualdez family has maintained a firm grip on Leyte’s first congressional district, including Tacloban City, since 1995—just a few years after their return from exile in the United States following the People Power Revolution in 1986 that toppled the 20-year rule of Ferdinand Marcos Sr., the father and namesake of the incumbent president.
Petilla clan
In their absence during the post-Marcos years, the Petilla family rose to power in Leyte.
The current governor, Carlos Jericho Petilla, is seeking his second term, a position previously held by his parents, the late Leopoldo and Remedios Petilla, as well as his younger brother, Leopoldo Dominico Petilla.
Remedios, the family matriarch, is also running for another term as mayor of Palo town.
Governor Petilla was set to file his CoC on Oct. 7.
The Petilla family’s influence continues to extend to other political seats in the province.
Carl Nicolas Cari, nephew of Governor Petilla, filed his COC on Friday for a third term representing Leyte’s fifth district. INQ
