Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

TACLOBAN CITY - A Romualdez is sure to run for Leyte governor in the 2010 elections.

But who among the members of the influential family would run for Leyte's top post was not bared by Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez who revealed his family's plan in a talk with reporters here on Saturday.

The mayor's disclosure came in the heels of his campaign to convert Tacloban into a highly urbanized city, which would exclude its residents from voting and being voted upon for any elective post in Leyte.

Other than the small town of Tolosa, Tacloban, which has over 90,000 registered voters, is considered to be the main bailiwick of the Romualdezes whose political fortune is largely credited to former first lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos.

Tolosa, some 24 kilometers from this city, is considered to be the hometown of the Romualdezes.

"Politically, the conversion of Tacloban into a highly urbanized city is not good for us because a Romualdez would like to run for (governor)," the city mayor said.

He, however, declined to identify who among the family members would run for governor.

Philip Romualdez, a cousin of the city mayor, is rumored to be interested to run for governor in 2010 elections.

Philip's younger brother, Ferdinand Martin, is the incumbent congressman representing the first district of Leyte which covers this city and seven towns.

Philip's father, Kokoy, served as Leyte's governor for 20 years throughout the Marcos regime. Philip himself was the provincial chairman of the Kabataan Barangay (Youth Village), the precursor of today's Sangguniang Kabataan (Youth Council).

The Romualdez family left the province in 1986 after the regime of Ferdinand Marcos was ousted through the peaceful Edsa People Power Revolution.

The family is now considered to be among the closest political allies of President Macapagal-Arroyo.