The century-old history of Leyte’s political clans

TACLOBAN CITY, May 16 (PNA) -- When it comes to politics and bailiwicks, Leyte province has become synonymous to the Romualdezes and Petillas.

The entrance of Romualdezes in political scene started in 1949 when Daniel Z. Romualdez was elected as representative of Leyte’s 4th district.

They became even more popular after his cousin, Imelda Romualdez married the late strongman former President Ferdinand Marcos, Sr.

Imelda’s brother Benjamin Romualdez was representative to the 1978-1986 Batasang Pambansa. He was the Leyte governor from 1967 to 1986. Marcos appointed him as ambassador to China, Saudi Arabia and the United States while serving as Leyte governor.

Another sibling, Alfredo Romualdez was the mayor of Tacloban City from 1998 to 2007. Alfredo’s son, Alfred will end his nine-year term as mayor of the regional capital. His wife, Cristina, will replace him.

In Leyte’s first district, the Romualdezes have regained control when Imelda got elected as congresswoman from 1995 to 1998. His nephew, Alfred, replaced her from 1998 to 2001. Their reign in the district was interrupted for six years when broadcaster Ted Failon, defeated Alfred.

Failon quit politics after three years and returned to broadcast media. He was replaced by then Governor Remedios Petilla in 2001 in Congress.

In 2004, another member of Romualdez, Ferdinand Martin joined the political arena as first district congressman. He is about to end his nine-year term on June 30. His wife, Yedda Marie, succeeded in replacing him.

The Romualdezes continue to take control of the first district while the Petillas reigned the provincial government.

But tracing back the history of their dominance in politics, their involvement did not really start after Marcos regime, but even before the Romualdezes made name in political arena.

How did the Petillas took control of the province, what made their family the prominent political clan in Leyte?

The Petillas are part of the elongated Veloso-Loreto-Cari-Petilla political clan.

First to be elected in public office was Jose Ma. Veloso who was elected as Governor of Leyte from 1912 to 1916.

Website of Senate shows that Veloso, after being elected as governor of Leyte was elected Senator from the ninth district which was composed of Samar and Leyte in 1916 to 1919, 1925 to 1931 and 1931 to 1935.

He served as a representative from the 3rd district of Leyte and became a member of the First National Assembly under the Commonwealth of the Philippines from 1935 to 1938.

Then came the Loretos, the roots of the matriarch of Petilla clan. The sister of Jose, Maria Veloso married Carlos Loreto that produces the second degree politicians of the clan.

Their offsprings are Eriberto, Jose, Carmen and Remedios.

Their two sons Eriberto became representative Leyte’s 5th district (1987-1998), Jose was the former Baybay town mayor (1980-1986) and provincial board member.

Their two daughters are still active in politics, fielding the present day political leaders in the province.

Carmen is the incumbent city mayor of Baybay. The matriarch of Loreto-Cari clan has also served as three-term district representative of the 5th district. She also served as Baybay town mayor from 1988 to 1998.

Then there’s Remedios, Carmen’s younger sister, who married Leopoldo Petilla from Palo town.

Leopoldo took control of the province unplanned. He was elected vice governor in 1988 when then Governor Adelina Larrazabal was disqualified by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for failing the residency requirement.

Leopoldo won in the 1992 gubernatorial race, but the Comelec ruled shortly before the 1995 elections, that his rival Edgardo Enerlan as the real winner.

After his term, he was succeeded Remedios, elected as governor for three terms from 1998 to 2004.

Afterwards, she served as 1st district representative from 2004 to 2007. Currently, she is the incumbent mayor of Palo and again re-elected for the same position.

The couple has two sons who are now in politics - Carlos Jericho and Leopoldo Dominico.

Carlos Jericho was the first son to enter politics. She succeeded his mother Remedios in the gubernatorial posts for three terms from 2004 to 2012. His third term was cut short when President Benigno Aquino III appointed him as secretary of the Department of Energy.

Leopoldo Dominico, his younger brother, entered the political scene, running unopposed for governor in 2013.

Dominance of the clan did not end on them, but has sub-branches that are now holding different elective positions.

In the Loreto side, the son of Jose Loreto, Carlo Loreto is the incumbent vice-governor of Leyte, he ran unopposed in this year’s election. Before elected as vice-governor, Carlo was a three-term board member in Leyte.

Jose’s daughter Janette is now the secretary of Department of Health. She marries a member of Garin political clan in Iloilo where she was elected as district representative for three years. Before that she was elected as Sangguniang Kabataan Federation President of Leyte that gives her a seat at the provincial board.

In the side of Cari, Carmen’s two sons Jose Carlos is the incumbent district representative of Leyte’s 5th district, while his younger son, Michael, is the incumbent vice mayor of the city.

Jose Carlos, Carmen’s son, before elected as congressman, became a mayor of Baybay from 1998 to 2007 while his brother Michael was also elected as mayor of Baybay in 2007.

It is interesting to know that even the rise of new political clans and continuing dominance of other political families in some districts of the province, the Veloso-Loreto-Cari-Petilla strength remain as what they are, holding most elective positions in the provincial government for almost a hundred years now. (PNA)

JMC/SQM/ROEL T AMAZONA/EGR