Lawyer challenges Martin’s reelection bid in 1st district
TACLOBAN CITY- Unfazed by Leyte’s first district Representative Ferdinand Martin “FM” G. Romualdez popularity, wealth and political machinery, congressional candidate lawyer Feliciano “Fiel” B. Clemencio vowed to educate voters after he filed his certificate of candidacy (CoC) yesterday.
Running under the Liberal Party, Clemencio said he will take the challenge for the second time to run for congress against the nephew of former First Lady Imelda Romualdez-Marcos, who is about to complete his first term next year.
“There’s a need for a massive information drive. People should realize that one vote is sacred and it will affect many people,” he told Leyte Samar Daily Express after he filed his CoC at the provincial office of the Commission on Elections yesterday morning.
“Voters should look into the sincerity of candidates who will facilitate the implementation of basic services that are really needed by the community,” Clemencio added.
A known ally of President Gloria Macpagal-Arroyo, Congressman Romualdez formalized his reelection bid Monday afternoon with a throng of supporters who were on board a convoy of vehicles.
“I filed my certificate of candidacy as I was urged by our local leaders here to continue on what we have done in the past two and a half years and we endeavor to continue the works that we have set forth and more,” Romualdez said.
The lawmaker is running under the ruling party Lakas-Kampi-CMD, of which he is the district chairman and national vice president for finance.
“And I have made a commitment to make Leyte first. That is my goal to make Leyte number one,” Romualdez said. He has run in 2007 elections under “Leyte First” campaign slogan.
Clemencio criticized Romualdez, saying the official was not able to create jobs in Leyte and many people have remained poor with the absence of significant investments that could generate employment and livelihood opportunities.
“The problem here is employment and people don’t have food in their table. The job of a congressman is not just limited to implementing infrastructure projects,” Clemencio said.
According to him, delivery of social services is another concern especially that “there’s only one hospital where sick people go.” The candidate was referring to the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center.
“There’s a need to set up hospitals in nearby towns outside Tacloban so that people don’t have to get treatment in a crowded regional hospital,” he added.
The candidate pointed out that helping farmers should be given proper attention considering that they’re the ones “providing us food in our table.”
He claimed that he has allies in some towns of the congressional district that could help advance his campaign for a more progressive Leyte province. “Fielding candidates in all towns are one of our plans.”
In 2007, he only got 34,000 votes based on the election returns gathered by Clemencio’s camp. He ran under former President Joseph Estrada’s Partido ng Masang Pilipino.
Romualdez garnered 121,201 votes in that election.
The Leyte’s first district composed of Tacloban City and seven towns—Sta. Fe, San Miguel, Alang-Alang, Tanauan, Babatngon, Tolosa and Palo—has over 200,000 voters. (Sarwell Q. Meniano)
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