Gonzales-Kwan
TACLOBAN CITY– Guiuan Mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan revealed a growing sense of betrayal and dissatisfaction with the performance of Eastern Samar Rep. Ma. Fe Abunda has driven her and other local leaders to back Sheen Gonzales, Kwan’s younger brother, in challenging the incumbent lady solon in next year’s elections.
Kwan, along with 18 other mayors, expressed disappointment in Abunda’s leadership, citing a broken agreement made on October 1 between provincial leaders.
The deal, brokered by House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, was intended to uphold the “equity of the incumbent” principle, protecting sitting officials from electoral challenges. However, despite the agreement, incumbents in several municipalities now face opposition.
“The principle of ‘equity of the incumbent’ was disregarded,” Kwan explained, adding that this prompted her and other mayors to urge Gonzales to run for Congress. “We were left with no choice but to call on Sheen to take up the challenge.”
Another critical point of frustration among the mayors was the lack of communication from Rep. Abunda.
Kwan said that following the decision of 4Ps party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan to not run for Congress, they were led to believe Abunda would unite the local leaders.
However, their trust waned as Abunda allegedly failed to reach out or coordinate with them.
As they waited in uncertainty, the mayors were surprised to learn that several candidates had filed certificates of candidacy (COCs) to oppose incumbent officials in their towns, despite the previous agreement.
“We were anxious, sleepless. All 19 mayors felt deceived,” Kwan lamented. “There was no communication, no reassurance—nothing.”
Arteche Mayor Roland Boie Evardone, currently seeking the vice mayoralty, echoed Kwan’s concerns, pointing out that even Abunda’s own municipal coordinator had filed a COC to run against him.
“How can the congresswoman not have control over her own coordinator?” Evardone questioned. “We kept our end of the bargain, but it’s clear who violated the agreement.”
Kwan concluded that the mayors’ collective decision to endorse Gonzales for Congress was motivated by a desire to give the people of Eastern Samar a real choice in leadership.
(LIZBETH ANN A.ABELLA)
