Despite the loud yearning of the youth for change and new leadership, the same political clans still hold key elective positions in Leyte, Biliran and Samar provinces of Eastern Visayas as incumbent officials and other family members continue to beat challengers in recent May 9 elections.
In Leyte alone, Carlos Jericho "Icot" Petilla will return as governor, the seat he held for three full terms nine years ago. He will replace his younger brother, Leopoldo Dominico "Mic" Petilla, to whom he handed the baton in 2013.
The clan’s matriarch Remedios, the former Leyte governor and solon since 1992, will return as mayor of Palo, replacing Anne, the wife of Carlos Jericho.
Remedios’s nephew, Jose Carlos, was re-elected as mayor of Baybay City.
Romualdez Clan
Meanwhile, the son of former Leyte Governor Benjamin Romualdez, who ruled the province during the administration of Ferdinand Marcos, Sr., Leyte's 1st district representative, Ferdinand Martin Romualdez had no opponent in his bid to return to Congress for the third term, the post he held since 2007.
Alfred was also re-elected as Tacloban City mayor after he defeated the former vice mayor, Jerry "Sambo" Yaokasin.
Lolita Javier, the wife of Leonardo Javier, the owner of Andok’s Litson Corp. and former mayor of Javier town, will be the new vice-governor of Leyte province.
Her son, Michael Dragon, on the other hand, will replace her as the new mayor of Javier, Leyte.
More In The Family
Actors turned politicians and power couple Richard Gomez and Lucy Torres-Gomez succeeded in their bid to swap posts.
Lucy's brother also remains the mayor of Kananga.
Unopposed, Anna Veloso-Tuazon, an incumbent board member, will replace his father, Rep. Ching Veloso, a former appellate court justice, in the House of Representatives.
Meanwhile in Biliran Province, Naval Mayor Gerard Espina won the gubernatorial race, replacing his father, Rogelio, who is retiring from politics.
His uncle, Gerardo, Jr. is re-elected as the lone district representative of the province.
Samar Clans
For Samar’s Tan family, this election have resulted in the doubling of the number of their clan members holding elective post in the province.
Incumbent 2nd district Rep. Sharee Ann Tan succeeded in her attempt to swap posts with her younger brother, the current governor Reynolds Michael.
Their uncle, Arnold Tan, will be the new vice-governor of the province after defeating Board Member Alma Uy.
Sharee Ann’s younger brother, Stephen James won the congressional race against incumbent Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento.
Eastern, Northern Samar
Meanwhile, in Eastern Samar, Ralph Vincent, the son of Governor Ben Evardone won a seat in the Sulat town council and is the second family member to join politics.
Evardone won another term as governor, the post he held since 2019.
Northern Samar, incumbent Governor Edwin Ongchuan also succeeded in his reelection bid.
It seems that it will take time and more encouragement before the people of Eastern Visayas wake up and see that there are far more better leaders who will be able to serve them than the repetitive names and faces that have been heard for generations.