Romualdez seeks reelection as Tacloban mayor, son runs for vice mayor

Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez and his son, businessman Raymund Romualdez, filed their certificates of candidacy for mayor and vice mayor, respectively, on Thursday, October 7.

They were accompanied by Alfred’s wife, former mayor Cristina Gonzales-Romualdez and their daughter, recording artist Sofia Romualdez, at the Commission on Elections office at the Tacloban City Convention Center. 

Romualdez ran unopposed in the 2019 elections but in the 2022 polls, he will be challenged by Vice Mayor Jerry “Sambo” Yaokasin. (READ: Tacloban vice mayor joins mayoral race to ‘spark change‘)

Alfred succeeded his aunt, Imelda Marcos, as Leyte 1st District representative in 1998, and was later elected as Tacloban City mayor, post he held from 2007 to 2016, and again since 2019. Cristina served as mayor from 2016 to 2019.

Alfred was among the mayors found to have received early vaccination at a time when vaccines were reserved for medical frontliners.

Raymund has been involved in youth-oriented activities through the nonprofit Hiraya Foundation, of which he is president. He is also the president of the Tacloban Business Club, Incorporated. 

In a Facebook post, Raymund called on the people of Tacloban to support him and his father in the 2022 elections.

Raymund is the ex-boyfriend of actress Gwen Zamora, and was also linked to Ellen Adarna. – Rappler.com

Lance Paolo Lim is a Visayas-based journalist and an awardee of the Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship.