MAYOR Eric C.Codilla dismissed Richard Gomez’s declaration that he will run for mayor as a gimmick meant to divert attention away from the actor’s alleged drug links. The announcement was unnecessary, he said, considering the Ormocanons knew all along of Gomez’s ambition and desire rule the city.
“Nideklarar si Richard og pagkandidato aron mawala ang isyu sa drogas,” Mayor Codilla said, refering to the implication of Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez’s close security aide to drugs. The Gomezes were quick to give their defense to their aide, citing his absolution by Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Commander CSupt. Arnold R. Revilla.
But Mayor Codilla said only PNP Chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome who made the accusation can clear the aide while CSupt. Revilla can only recommend. “Ngilngiga na gyud diay ni nga direktor ‘no? Muingon diay siya nga ‘hoy, dili na mao. Ayaw tuoha nang akong PNP chief!’” he said.
Mayor Codilla feels strongly about drugs because of his desire to minimize, if not eradicate the menace in Ormoc. “Sige ta’g atake [sa drogas] unya naay mudepensa nila,” he remarked. "Isip amahan sa atong syudad, akong obligasyon nga protehean ang mga tawo. Naniguro ta og sulbad sa drogas unya ang uban mudepensa hinuon.”
Mayor Codilla also recalls Maribel Martinez alias “Daisy” who was gunned down last Feb. 26, an incident which police described as drug-related. The victim was a daughter-in-law of a campaign leader of the Gomezes. “Ayaw man kaha ta sa drogas?” the mayor added.
To cover these embarrassing incidents, the Gomez camp came up with the idea of Richard’s declaration to run, Mayor Codilla quipped. “Unsa may gamit og deklarasyon karon nga hibaw-an man nato kinsay mga politiko ning atong lugar? Mao ra na ang style nila aron mawala ang isyu sa drogas,” he said.
With the election still a year away, the mayor believes it is still too early to make declarations. He recalled that he made his own first declaration in January 1, months before the May 2004 polls. Many were expecting Mayor Codilla to make a formal declaration during his birthday last June 7 but they were disappointed.
Guests at his birthday included supporters from neighboring towns, fueling speculations that Mayor Codilla will formally declare his intention to run for congressman. He was also expected to name his anointed successor. While he has repeatedly dropped the name of his brother Eduard as his likely successor, talks are also rife that their father, former Congressman Eufrocino Sr., will make a comeback for mayor.
With the Gomezes belonging under the ruling administration Liberal Party, Mayor Codilla said it is not impossible for him to align with the opposition’s United Nationalist Alliance considering the hierarchy of Lakas-NUCD-UMDP where he belongs to announced the possibility of joining forces with another party coalition.
He added that they will hold an oath-taking of new district party members on either July or August wherein they will make their formal announcement on the personalities they will field for the positions that are up for grabs in next year’s elections.
Meanwhile, one of Mayor Codilla’s guests in his 49th birthday was Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez who looks up to Eufrocino Sr. as his mentor in Congress. Speaking before the thousands of guests, the youthful solon said he sees the developments delivered by the Codillas in 4th District.
Now that Ormoc’s chief executive is on his last term, Rep. Romualdez hopes the constituency in 4th District will give Mayor Codilla a chance to serve them on a higher capacity in government to continue the progress made in northwestern Leyte.
“Nideklarar si Richard og pagkandidato aron mawala ang isyu sa drogas,” Mayor Codilla said, refering to the implication of Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez’s close security aide to drugs. The Gomezes were quick to give their defense to their aide, citing his absolution by Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Commander CSupt. Arnold R. Revilla.
But Mayor Codilla said only PNP Chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome who made the accusation can clear the aide while CSupt. Revilla can only recommend. “Ngilngiga na gyud diay ni nga direktor ‘no? Muingon diay siya nga ‘hoy, dili na mao. Ayaw tuoha nang akong PNP chief!’” he said.
Mayor Codilla feels strongly about drugs because of his desire to minimize, if not eradicate the menace in Ormoc. “Sige ta’g atake [sa drogas] unya naay mudepensa nila,” he remarked. "Isip amahan sa atong syudad, akong obligasyon nga protehean ang mga tawo. Naniguro ta og sulbad sa drogas unya ang uban mudepensa hinuon.”
Mayor Codilla also recalls Maribel Martinez alias “Daisy” who was gunned down last Feb. 26, an incident which police described as drug-related. The victim was a daughter-in-law of a campaign leader of the Gomezes. “Ayaw man kaha ta sa drogas?” the mayor added.
To cover these embarrassing incidents, the Gomez camp came up with the idea of Richard’s declaration to run, Mayor Codilla quipped. “Unsa may gamit og deklarasyon karon nga hibaw-an man nato kinsay mga politiko ning atong lugar? Mao ra na ang style nila aron mawala ang isyu sa drogas,” he said.
With the election still a year away, the mayor believes it is still too early to make declarations. He recalled that he made his own first declaration in January 1, months before the May 2004 polls. Many were expecting Mayor Codilla to make a formal declaration during his birthday last June 7 but they were disappointed.
Guests at his birthday included supporters from neighboring towns, fueling speculations that Mayor Codilla will formally declare his intention to run for congressman. He was also expected to name his anointed successor. While he has repeatedly dropped the name of his brother Eduard as his likely successor, talks are also rife that their father, former Congressman Eufrocino Sr., will make a comeback for mayor.
With the Gomezes belonging under the ruling administration Liberal Party, Mayor Codilla said it is not impossible for him to align with the opposition’s United Nationalist Alliance considering the hierarchy of Lakas-NUCD-UMDP where he belongs to announced the possibility of joining forces with another party coalition.
He added that they will hold an oath-taking of new district party members on either July or August wherein they will make their formal announcement on the personalities they will field for the positions that are up for grabs in next year’s elections.
Meanwhile, one of Mayor Codilla’s guests in his 49th birthday was Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez who looks up to Eufrocino Sr. as his mentor in Congress. Speaking before the thousands of guests, the youthful solon said he sees the developments delivered by the Codillas in 4th District.
Now that Ormoc’s chief executive is on his last term, Rep. Romualdez hopes the constituency in 4th District will give Mayor Codilla a chance to serve them on a higher capacity in government to continue the progress made in northwestern Leyte.
Aside from the bash at Codilla’s Guesthouse, Mayor Codilla also offered the annual “Gasa sa Masa ni Meyor Beboy” which he delivers everytime he celebrates his birthday. Those who availed of the services are given meal coupons for them to claim free lunch at any of the 57 stalls of the food park.
“Gasa sa Masa ni Meyor Beboy” offered free services on dental and medical checkups, tooth extraction, birth registration for seven years old and below, haircut, manicure, pedicure, relexology, circumcision with antibiotics, etc. Free vegetable seedlings were also given away.(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of June 4-10, 2010)
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