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)

Reasons for his congressional bid

TACLOBAN CITY-Former Court of Appeals Associate Justice Vicente “Ching” Veloso III has two key reasons for seeking to represent Leyte’s 4th congressional district in the upcoming elections.

First, the five mayors from the district—covering Palompon, Isabel, Merida, Matag-ob, and Albuera—have been urging him to run and second, and more personal, is his commitment to advocating for the poor and marginalized.

Thus he said during an interview with Veloso who is running as a congressman representing Leyte’s fourth congressional district in next year’s balloting.

“I am running to fight for the welfare of the poor and the oppressed,” Veloso declared.
Veloso officially filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) before noon on Oct.4 at the Leyte provincial office of the Commission on Elections, here in the city.

He is set to challenge incumbent Rep. Richard Gomez who is seeking for his own second term in office.

Having previously served as the representative of Leyte’s 3rd district from 2016 to 2022, Veloso relocated to the 4th district last year, positioning himself for this run.

“This is not about popularity,” Veloso emphasized. “It’s about service. If you want to represent the people, you must work for them. We will build more hospitals and schools,” he added, outlining part of his vision for the district.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Leyte 2nd District Engineering Office (L2DEO) of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has successfully completed the paving of a 1.637-lane kilometer concrete road in Barangay Anibongon, Jaro, Leyte.

The newly constructed road will serve as a vital service route for the local community, alleviating the issues previously caused by the old unpaved road, which was often bumpy, dusty, and muddy, especially during the rainy season.

District Engineer Leo Edward Oppura emphasized the importance of this infrastructure project, noting that it greatly improves mobility and access to essential services such as healthcare, education, and employment for the people of Brgy. Anibongon.

“The completion of this road opens up easier transportation of goods and services, significantly benefiting the local population,” Oppura said.

Village chairwoman Rosalina Volcan expressed her gratitude during an interview, sharing the struggles her community faced with the previous road conditions.

“Our students and residents found it difficult to travel to town or leave our barangay, especially during the rainy season when the road was muddy and motorbikes struggled on the bumpy surface,” she said.

She further added, “This project has made a huge difference. Now, our students no longer have to deal with the mud during rainy days, and traveling by vehicle is much easier. We are deeply grateful to the DPWH for providing us with this farm-to-market road.”

The road project, which began on April 12, 2024, was completed on July 3, 2024, with a total budget allocation of P9.88 million.

(LIZBETH ANN A.ABELLA)

2025 Elections

TACLOBAN CITY – Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho ‘Icot Petilla said that Roland “Kerwin” Espinosa, a confessed drug lord, has the right to run for public office, despite the controversy surrounding him.

Petilla made this statement when asked about Espinosa’s candidacy for mayor of Albuera town during an interview.

“They say he’s involved in illegal drugs, which he has denied, but it is his right to run, as everyone is entitled to,” Petilla said. “At the end of the day, this is an election, and it’s the people who will decide.”

Espinosa, 43, filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) on October 1, the first day of filing, declaring his intention to run for mayor.

His sister, Mariel, is his running mate.

Espinosa said that one of his key priorities, if elected, would be to rid Albuera of illegal drug activities.

He also revealed that his decision to run was fueled by a desire to seek justice for his father, former Albuera mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr.

The elder Espinosa, once named by former President Rodrigo Duterte as a narco-politician, was killed in a shootout inside his cell at the Baybay City sub-provincial jail on November 5, 2016, during a raid by members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

Kerwin will face incumbent Mayor Sixto de la Victoria and board member Vincent Emnas, the brother-in-law of Leyte Rep. Richard Gomez, in the upcoming mayoral race.

Both de la Victoria and Emnas were present when Gov. Petilla submitted his own COC at the provincial office of the Commission on Elections in Tacloban City on October 8.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)