Romualdez vows to deliver votes from E. Visayas for Alyansa Senate bets

House Speaker Martin Romualdez
Photo from House of Representatives

TACLOBAN CITY – Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Thursday vowed to deliver more than 3.25 million votes from Eastern Visayas for the administration-backed “Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas” senatorial slate.

Romualdez led a grand rally for the Alyansa at the Tacloban City Convention Center, joined by top political leaders and grassroots representatives from across the region.

Eastern Visayas—comprising the provinces of Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran, Samar, Eastern Samar, and Northern Samar—is widely considered a stronghold of President Marcos.

The President’s mother, former First Lady Imelda Marcos, hails from Leyte, the region’s most vote-rich province with 1.09 million registered voters.

“We are confident that Region 8 will give its solid support—more than 3.25 million votes—for the candidates who will champion the President’s vision for a better Philippines,” said Romualdez, who also serves as president of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) and is seeking his third and final term as representative of Leyte’s 1st district.

The rally was organized by the Tingog party-list, represented by Representatives Yedda Romualdez and Jude Acidre, and was attended by key leaders from the provincial to barangay level.

Among those present were Governors Damian Mercado of Southern Leyte and Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar, along with Northern Samar Rep. Paul Daza and several city and municipal mayors and councilors.

Governor Evardone emphasized that the region’s endorsement of the Alyansa slate is rooted in the people’s desire for inclusive, pro-development leadership.

“We speak today not merely as governors, but as stewards of our provinces who know what our people truly need,” said Evardone, whose province has more than 359,000 voters.

“We need leaders in the Senate who will fight for regional development, uphold local voices, and ensure that progress is shared throughout the country,” he added.

Governor Mercado echoed this view, saying the gathering was more than just a political event.

“In Southern Leyte, Alyansa is strong because we are united,” he said.

“The people of Eastern Visayas have endured many hardships which is why they value leaders who don’t just make promises. Our support is based on careful discernment,” he added.

Southern Leyte, the birthplace of former president Rodrigo Duterte’s mother, has a voting population of over 300,000.

Among the Alyansa candidates who attended the rally were Senator Francis Tolentino, ACT-CIS Rep. Erwin Tulfo, and former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos.

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Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. was represented by his wife, Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado, while Makati Mayor Abby Binay was represented by Makati Councilor and actor Jhong Hilario. / jpv