Speaker Romualdez files COC for reelection bid

Speaker Martin Romuadez of Leyte on Tuesday filed his certificate of candidacy for reelection as Leyte First District Representative.

Romualdez, the president of ruling party Lakas-CMD, filed his COC before lawyer Maria Goretti Canas, the Acting Provincial Election Supervisor of the Province of Leyte.

"Ang patuloy na suporta ng ating mga kababayan ang inspirasyon ko upang ipagpatuloy ang ating nasimulan. Isa pong malaking karangalan ang magsilbi sa Leyte at sa buong bansa," Romualdez, cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., said.

(Our fellow Filipinos' support serves as my inspiration to continue what I started. It is an honor to serve Leyte and the nation.) 

If reelected, Romualdez said he plans to focus on expanding educational programs, improving healthcare services, and ensuring that infrastructure development in Leyte keeps pace with the province's growing needs.

In addition, Romualdez said he will continue promoting livelihood programs that will benefit farmers, fishermen, and small business owners.

Romualdez filed his COC accompanied by local officials of Leyte namely Governor Jericho Petilla, Vice Governor Leonardo Javier, Second District Representative Karen Javier, among others.

If he wins in the 2025 polls, Romualdez will serve his third consecutive term as a House member after winning in 2019.

Romualdez also served as Leyte First District Representative from 2007 to 2016.

As this developed, Bicol party-list lawmaker Brian Yamsuan also filed his COC for Parañaque City Second District Representative in the 2025 polls.

Yamsuan, who filed his COC as an independent candidate at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Office of the Regional Director- National Capital Region in San Juan City, said he will be standing for health, opportunities, peace and education, abbreviated as HOPE.

“Hindi tayo pwedeng magbulag-bulagan sa maraming pagkukulang na nangyayari sa ating distrito kaya minarapat ko ng mag-file ng kandidatura bilang congressman ng second district,” Yamsuan said.

(We cannot turn a blind eye to the things our district is lacking that is why I decided to run for Second District representative.)

Yamsuan will be battling incumbent Parañaque Second District Representative Gus Tambunting for the post.

Prior to his stint in Congress, Yamsuan also served as an assistant secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Meanwhile, Navotas City Representative Toby Tiangco is also seeking reelection as congressman of the city.

Tiangco expressed gratitude to his constituents for their continued trust and support for him.

''Mga kababayan, ikinagagalak ko pong ipamalita na tayo’y nag-file para sa ating kandidatura sa pagka-Congressman kanginang umaga. Sa ngalan ni Mayor John Rey Tiangco at ng buong #PartidoNavoteño, ako po ay taus-pusong nagpapasalamat sa inyong patuloy na tiwala at suporta,'' Tiangco said via a post on Facebook. 

(My countrymen, I am happy to announce that I filed my candidacy for Congressman this morning. On behalf of Mayor John Rey Tiangco and the #PartidoNavoteño, I wholeheartedly give thanks for your continued trust and support.) —With a report from Anna Felicia Bajo, VAL/RF, GMA Integrated News