LP picks Calapan mayor as House bet

The ruling Liberal Party (LP) has endorsed Calapan City Mayor Paulino Salvador Leachon as its official candidate for congressman of Oriental Mindoro next year.

The party’s provincial chair, Oriental Mindoro Gov. Alfonso Umali Jr., announced that Leachon is the LP candidate for representative of the first district.

Leachon is running against Nico Valencia, son of Rep. Rodolfo Valencia.

Umali said Leachon is the most trusted by the LP to run for the House seat.

In 2011, Leachon received an award as among the Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines.

Leachon was credited with transforming Calapan City into one of the country’s most competitive cities as recognized by the Asian Institute of Management and the Department of Interior and Local Government in 2008.

He is the national vice chair of the League of Cities of the Philippines. He juggled odd jobs before becoming a public servant.

While in his early college years in San Beda College taking up Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, he worked as a taxi driver to make ends meet and as a crew member of a fast food outlet.