By Gabriel Kim Leal
(January 13, 2024) – House Speaker Martin Romualdez will be running unopposed for representative of the first district of Leyte in the upcoming midterm elections after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) disqualified his rival for failing to meet voter registration requirements.
Comelec chairperson George Garcia on Monday said they disqualified Romilda Bacale despite no formal petition filed against her.
“Hindi siya registered voter (ng Tacloban). Ang Comelec ay may kapangyarihan to administratively cancel a certificate of candidacy. ‘Yan ay na-affirm sa kaso ng (Romeo) Jalosjos vs. Comelec,” said Garcia.
He explained that the election registration board of Tacloban flagged issues with Bacale’s voter registration, noting that she transferred her residence from Sampaloc, Manila to Tacloban. The exact timeline of her transfer, however, was unclear.
“Walang sapat na panahon o kuwalipikasyon na makalipat ‘yung mismong taong ‘yan bilang botante,” added Garcia.
Bacale served as head of the Manila Action Center of the Department of Social Welfare and Development before relocating to Tacloban. She’s also a former regional coordinator of Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino.
Romualdez, a cousin of Pres. Bongbong Marcos Jr., filed his certificate of candidacy in October. He vowed to continue what he described as “programs that provide better opportunities for province residents.”
If re-elected, Romualdez will serve his third straight term. He also ran unopposed in 2022, garnering 181,480 votes.
He first won the post in 2007 and held it until 2016. He was succeeded by his wife, Yedda Marie Romualdez. She is currently the representative of Tingog Party-list.
He recently faced criticisms over the Ayuda Para sa Kapos sa Kita Program (AKAP), his pet project, which was allocated a P26.7 billion budget for this year.
Critics labeled AKAP a “pork barrel insertion” designed for vote-buying.
Last year, Romualdez was rumored to be behind the people’s initiative for charter change.
(With reports from Mon Gualvez, News5)
(PM)
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