KAUSABAN. Mayor -elect Eulogio "Yoly" Tupa was proclaimed winner in Palompon mayoral race last May 16, 2006 (12:30 midnight), defeating the mighty Oñate rule.
Leyte 4th district Congressman Eufrocino "Dodong" Codilla, Congressman-Elect Ferdinand Martin Romualdez of 1st district of Leyte, and Ormoc City Mayor Eric "Beboy" Codilla after the Proclamation at Leyte Provincial Capitol in Tacloban City last May 17, 2007, 2:00 PM.
Congressman Eufrocino "Dodong" Codilla, Sr. 4th district of Leyte defeated former Cong. Toto J. Locsin with more than 37,000 votes, the biggest margin in a congressional fight in the Visayas.
JUST as the express predicted, the 4th District is now considered a Codilla country with the winning streak of the dynasty and its anointed candidates in the six towns. This development has led to the crumbling of mighty names that dominated local politics for over a decade and the rise of promising new ones.
In the Congressional race, the family patriarch Rep. Eufrocino M. Codilla Sr. was proclaimed winner by the Provincial Board of Canvassers last May 17. He mauled challenger Carmelo J. Locsin by over 37,849 votes, the biggest margin he garnered in his political career. Earlier, Provincial Board Member Herville Pajaron predicted that the solon will win by more than 20,000 votes. Rep. Codilla’s luck rubbed on to his anointed candidates.
In Ormoc, Mayor Eric C. Codilla and his entire slate were proclaimed last May 16. This is the first time in the city’s history that the electorate voted straight for a single party. Mayor Codilla thwarted Dr. Gregorio Yrastorza’s ambition of toppling him by getting 12,493 more votes than the challenger.
In Kananga, Rep. Codilla’s son Elmer routed incumbent Vice Mayor Marciano Nahine with a wide margin of over 3,000 votes. Just like in Ormoc, the entire slate of the ruling party made it led by running mate Macario Lumangtad who beat incumbent Mayor Giovani Ed Napari. However, an incident occurred at the counting of ballots last May 14 with the missing of 114 ballots. Amorlina Capendit, representative of Lakas-CMD to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) narrated that Municipal Treasurer Rodrigo Hermoso objected to the counting of the official ballots. “What he did was to record only the first serial number of every booklet and the last number. When several extra official ballots of dubious serial numbers were discovered, he angrily tore them all despite our protestations,” Capendit said. “Our lawyer moved for individual counting where it was discovered that about 15 official ballots intended for Tongonan were missing,” she went on. A Comelec lawyer confirmed the discovery. “We traced that the missing 90 official ballots were issued to Brgy. Tugbong but the remaining 25 others could not be found,” he disclosed at past noon of Election Day. The incident prompted businessman Dodong Tan to remark: “This is the reason why we always lost to the Naparis in the past!” Comelec Officer Elvisa Chu proclaimed the winners 11:00 am last May 15. Elmer’s election signals the end of the longtime hold of the Naparis in Kananga. Mayor Napari is in his last term which is why he ran for vice mayor but lost. His late father Eduardo also served for 10 consecutive years as mayor.
Palompon
In Palompon, the 15-year rule of the Oñates is put to an end with the defeat of Mayor Marcelo Oñate from former Vice Mayor Eulogio Tupa with a slim margin of less than 1,000 votes. However, four of their candidates for Sangguniang Bayan (SB) members did not make it. Carrying the campaign slogan Kausaban (Change), Tupa and running mate Atty. Lloyd Surigao won in barangays that were considered bailiwicks of the Oñates before. Out of the town’s 50 barangays, the Kausaban team won in 32 villages, according to Campaign Coordinator Arnel Villarente. In the poblacion’s 10 barangays, Tupa’s team won in eight. Villarante was the Oñates’ campaign coordinator in the past three successive elections. Incidentally, this is the first time also that Rep. Codilla won in Palompon after having been beaten in the two past elections.
In Isabel town, Gen. Saturnino Median Jr. won over Atty. Edgardo Cordeño by a margin of more than 4,000 votes. His running-mate incumbent Vice Mayor Greg Cerillo likewise defeated opposition Flaviano Centino by more than 8,000 or over 50%. Only one candidate for SB member from the other camp made it.
In Merida town, re-electionist Mayor Marthon Solaña crushed Vice Mayor Rodrigo Wenceslao who is swamped with graft charges at the Ombudsman. Just like in Kananga, the mayor’s entire slate made it led by running mate Kumar Dumagsa. They were proclaimed winners last may 15.
In Albuera, the unopposed re-electionist Mayor Sixto de la Victoria steered his team to victory led by his running mate incumbent Vice Mayor Mario Barte who beat Marino Moaña. This is the mayor’s second term. His victorious slate is made up of Dandy Cayanong, Norman Mesina, Tano Barte, Neil Zaldivar, Ige Retuya, Cathy Tolero, Romeo Junco and Antonio Salinas.
KAUSABAN SA PALOMPON. Mayor -elect Eulogio "Yoly " Tupa, bringing hope to effect change in Palompon governance. The new administration will assume office on June 30, 1997, as per mandated by RA 7160.
SA KAUSABAN, ANG PALOMPON...MALINAWON UG MALAMBOON. Tupa's running mate, Atty. Lloyd Surigao vows to support the programs of Mayor Tupa and to help implement the much-needed development projects to fast track the economic growth of Palompon.
The dream team. Lakas CMD councilors was also proclaimed winners last May 16. (Left to Right) Atty. Jesus "Bong" Villardo III, NLC Director Gilbert Manongsong, Earl "Eloy" Bongbong, and retired SB Secretary Rodolfo "Rudy" Canson.
The other side. NPC councilors, (L -R) Former ABC President Mesias"Indoy" Arevalo, Re-electionist Councilors Manuel Bertulfo and Jesus "Jek" Sanchez, and newly -elected councilor Jun Roble.
