2 incumbent congressmen first to file COCs in Leyte

TACLOBAN CITY — Two incumbent Leyte congressmen have filed their certificates of candidacy (CoC) on Thursday.

Rep. Vicente Veloso filed his COC at 10:07 a.m. on Monday before the provincial office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) while Rep. Henry Ong filed his own certificate at 2 pm.

The two lawmakers were among the first to file their CoCs on the first day that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has set for political hopefuls. Others who filed their COCs were candidates for Leyte’s provincial board, including the Veloso’s daughter, Anne Victoria Tiozon.

Veloso, who chairs the committee on justice of the House of Representatives, is seeking a second term for Leyte’s second congressional district, which is the smallest in the province as it is composed of only six towns.

Ong is also seeking a possible second term in Leyte’s second district. The third district is composed of 14 towns.

Both solons are running under the ruling administration party, PDP-Laban. They were accompanied with their respective supporters and the town mayors in their district.

While they are incumbents, both Veloso and Ong said that they are not taking their respective reelection bids lightly

“It’s up to our constituents,” Ong said.

The solons claimed that they have implemented several projects and programs that would help them on their reelection bids.

“I have accomplished so much for my district,” Veloso, a former Court of Appeals justice, said, citing the construction of several roads in the district, and the delivery of health services to the people, among others.

Possible political opponents of Ong and Veloso have yet to file their own COCs. /ee