A day to deadline, no opposition in sight
By Jani Arnaiz
November 30, 2009
MAASIN CITY – Without opposition yet in sight a day to the deadline of filing of COCs (Certificate of Candidacies), only Southern Leyte Rep. Roger Mercado and Maasin mayor Malone Samaco and his slate for councilors has so far filed their candidacies.
Mercado accompanied Lakas-Kampi-CMD candidates in the city in filing their COCs at the City’s Comelec office on Saturday at 8:15 in the morning after a mass at nearby Maasin cathedral.
The solon was then accompanied by the city slate in filing his COC at the provincial Comelec office at the provincial Capitol premise.
His brother, Gov. Damian Mercado and his provincial slates will file their COCs on Tuesday, December 1, the last day of filing for the May 2010 polls.
Touted as the opposition in Southern Leyte, former Rep. Aniceto Saludo Jr., and former Gov. Rosette Lerias has yet to formalize their candidacies.
Lerias is rumored to run either as governor, vice governor or city mayor. Saludo will make another crack as congressman after he was defeated by Mercado on his second term in 2004.
Dominant leaders
Since Southern Leyte became a province in 1960, only four families have dominated province’ politics.
The first governor was the late Alfredo K. Bantug followed by Salvacion Oppus Yñiguez, the wife of former speaker during the time of Ferdinand Marcos, who ruled the province for more than 20 years. They were ousted during the 1986 revolution.
Four less known political leaders were appointed OIC governors until the regular elections with perennial Yñiguez vice Governor Oscar Tan elected as governor.
Tan completed his full term in 1998. His son Rico was defeated by the Speaker’s daughter, Rosette Yñiguez Lerias, who completed her full three terms.
Lerias ran for city mayor, while her daughter, Dundeet Lerias, replaces her in the province but both lost to Mayor Malone Samaco and Gov. Damian Mercado in 2007 elections.
Only Mercado and Saludo took turns as Southern Leyte Rep. in the province since Speaker Yñiguez, a classmate of the late strongman Marcos, was ousted in 1986.
If Saludo won the 2004 elections, it would have been his 3rd term to serve as Southern Leyte Representative.
As of now with regards to the political scenario in Southern Leyte, no one can stand up against the political figure stated above, an attempt was made by Mr. Castañares but failed, having the same faith as the others.
On the brighter side the Mercado’s though dominating the political scene is doing well, it may not be all perfect and an outstanding performance, but there is change and output, and I am hoping that it will be better.
We need to support our leaders it may be our allies or not to be able to reach the goals and dreams for our nation.
I have started reading this book and love it so far!
I just couldn’t wait for it to go in to paper back.