Incumbents, Dynasties Still Rule in Polls

Tacloban - Results of the newly concluded midterm elections in Eastern Visayas showed local voters still prefer the incumbents and members of known political families.

- By Miriam Desacada

Among the incumbents who faced strong opponents but managed to win are Rep. Richard Gomez of the fourth district of Leyte and his wife, Ormoc Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez.

Gomez bested former congressman Vicente Veloso.

Torres-Gomez and her running mate, Leo Carmelo Locsin, retained their posts.

The entire slate of Torres-Gomez's Ormoc Development Team won the council seats.

In Tacloban, Leyte's first district, Mayor Alfred Romualdez was reelected while his son, Ray, won as vice mayor.

Romualdez's other son, Marty, placed fourth in the race for the city council seat.

In Biliran, although election officials have yet to release the final results, the Espina clan was expected to win based on preliminary canvassing of votes.