Landlords and political clans clash in Leyte polls

By MURIN VELASCO
KAISAHAN Tungo sa Kaunlaran ng Kanayunan at Repormang Pansakahan Inc.

THE three-cornered fight in Leyte’s local polls this May 10 is mainly a battle of political clans and landlords that include celebrity TV host Lucy Torres-Gomez.

Torres-Gomez, who belongs to a landed family, is the last-minute substitute for her disqualified husband Richard Gomez as the Liberal party’s congressional candidate in Leyte’s fourth district.

The Torreses own vast sugar plantations and are reportedly planning to develop golf courses in the province.

Her rival, Eufrocino “Winnie” Codilla Jr. of Lakas-Kampi-CMD, is the son of incumbent Rep. Eufrocino Codilla Sr. and brother of Ormoc City Mayor Eric “Beboy” Codilla.

Some farmers say Eufrocino Codilla and the Torres family have opposed the implementation of the comprehensive agrarian reform law, especially when it comes to coverage of their properties.

Mayor Codilla, on the other hand, owns some parcels of land already covered by the agrarian reform program. Some of these have been turned over to farmers, while some have yet to be distributed. He also owns a construction company.

Also eyeing a congressional seat is Silverio “Berio” Tagolino, the only independent candidate. Known as an ordinary person compared to his opponents, Tagolino is a habitual figure in the local race, having run for different local positions but has never won.

His daughter, Amy, is a candidate for mayor. She is a first-time candidate.

Another mayoralty candidate, Marcos “Macoy” Larrazabal of the Liberal Party, comes from a rich, landed family and owns several businesses in Ormoc City.

Several of the Larrazabal family’s landholdings have been covered by the agrarian reform program, but few have been distributed to the farmers despite having been awarded certificates of land ownership. This is reportedly due to his family’s alleged resistance .

For vice mayor, only two candidates are competing–lawyer Nepomuceno “Nepnep” Aparis of Lakas and Jose “Ando” Conejos of LP.

Aparis is appreciated by farmers for having notarized their legal documents. On the other hand, Conejos promised to help the Kahugpungan sa mga Mag-uumang Ormocanon, a federation of small farmers in Ormoc, which he had tapped for support.

Vying for the position of councilor are 29 candidates: 12 are independent, seven from LP and 10 from Lakas-CMD.