TACLOBAN CITY -- A Romualdez is sure to run for Leyte governor in the 2010 elections.
But who among the members of the influential family would run for Leyte's top post was not bared by Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez who revealed his family's plan in a talk with reporters here on Saturday.
The mayor's disclosure came in the heels of his campaign to convert Tacloban into a highly urbanized city, which would exclude its residents from voting and being voted upon for any elective post in Leyte.
Other than the small town of Tolosa, Tacloban, which has over 90,000 registered voters, is considered to be the main bailiwick of the Romualdezes whose political fortune is largely credited to former first lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos.
Tolosa, some 24 kilometers from this city, is considered to be the hometown of the Romualdezes.
"Politically, the conversion of Tacloban into a highly urbanized city is not good for us because a Romualdez would like to run for (governor)," the city mayor said.
He, however, declined to identify who among the family members would run for governor.
Philip Romualdez, a cousin of the city mayor, is rumored to be interested to run for governor in 2010 elections.
Philip's younger brother, Ferdinand Martin, is the incumbent congressman representing the first district of Leyte which covers this city and seven towns.
Philip's father, Kokoy, served as Leyte's governor for 20 years throughout the Marcos regime. Philip himself was the provincial chairman of the Kabataan Barangay (Youth Village), the precursor of today's Sangguniang Kabataan (Youth Council).
The Romualdez family left the province in 1986 after the regime of Ferdinand Marcos was ousted through the peaceful Edsa People Power Revolution.
The family is now considered to be among the closest political allies of President Macapagal-Arroyo.
A close aide of Leyte Gov. Jericho Petilla, another Arroyo ally and whose family’s stock as a political clan rose during the Aquino administration, said they would welcome anyone from the Romualdez family who would seek the gubernatorial seat.
"It's every one's right to run for any elective position," said the aide, who asked not to be named as he was not authorized by the governor to speak on the issue.
The Petillas have ruled the province of more than 1.2 million people for 18 years now. Petilla's mother, Remedios, was the governor he succeeded.
Mayor Romualdez, meanwhile, dismissed speculations that he was pushing for the conversion of Tacloban into a highly urbanized city as part of his plan to return to Congress.
"That rumor is funny; that I will run for a congressional seat as my wife (actress Cristina Gonzales) will run for mayor," Romualdez said.
"I want to see Tacloban become an HUC because it will give us more opportunities like attracting more investors, and not for any political reason," he added.
An HUC is entitled to a congressional representation.
Romualdez served as congressman for Leyte's first congressional district from 1995 to 1998. He sought reelection but was defeated by popular news anchor Ted Failon.
