TACLOBAN CITY- Leyte Gov. Leopoldo Dominico Petilla is seeking a third term.
He filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) at the provincial office at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday, the last day of the filing of COCs for those running in next year’s midterm elections.
Running under the banner of the PDP-Laban, Petilla was accompanied by his mother, Remedios, former governor and outgoing mayor of Palo town, and brother, Carlos Jericho, also a former governor who served as Secretary of Energy during the Aquino administration.
Petilla’s nephew, Carl Nicholas Cari, also filed his COC to replace his father, Rep. Jose Carlo Cari of Leyte’s 5th district.
Jose Carlo, on the other hand, will run for mayor in Baybay City – a post now being held by his mother, Carmen, who is now on her last term.
Petilla said he would continue his administration’s programs and services particularly in the area of agriculture, nutrition and infrastructure.
Carl Nicholas, president of the Association of Barangay Chairmen in Baybay, said it was his “own choice” to run for congressman and not a “family decision.”
“I believe everybody could run. I have my own decision. That’s why I decided to run,” said the 26-year-old congressional candidate.
The young Cari is running under the Partido Federalismo.