07 Nov 2009
Matin Petilla "most likely" to run as mayor of Palo
by JOEY A. GABIETA

PALO, Leyte - Former representative and governor Remedios "Matin" Petilla is "most likely" to run for mayor of this town in next year's elections.

This was confirmed yesterday by Petilla herself as she described Palo as a "family's hometown."

But still, the mother of Governor Carlos Jericho "Icot" Petilla hastens to add that another run for Leyte's first congressional district remains to be an option in relation to the 2010 elections.

"But most likely, I will run for mayor of Palo. I have been going around, consulting with the local officials and getting the pulse of the people. And the reactions were amazing and heart-warming," Petilla said.

"They were all very, very excited," she added, referring to the reactions of the local officials on her plan to run for mayor of Palo.

Petilla, who is now the vice president for social concerns of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, said that she would declare her purported plan for mayor in due time.

But this early, her reported plan to run for mayor of this bustling town has the support of her son.

"Whatever will be her political plans (for 2010), I will support her 100 percent. Whatever support a son could give to his mother, I will gladly do so," Gov. Petilla said in a separate interview.

Both the governor and his mother were present during yesterday's inauguration of a police assistance center at Barangay Candahug, Palo. The modern police assistance center is located within the Leyte Academic Center where the region's first call center company is operating along with a computer school and a fast food chain.

Asked why she is seriously considering of running as mayor of Palo, Petilla said that the town, with its proximity to Tacloban City, has the potentials to become the next business hub of the province.

"It's already the center of culture and even religion. Palo has the potentials to become a business hub. It's a very good area (for further development)," she said.

Petilla lamented that despite of its potentials, Palo remains to be economically underdeveloped.

"Given the chance, I can handle the challenge. It is our hometown and it is where we intend to retire," she said.

The incumbent mayor of Palo is Teodoro Sevilla, who is serving his second term as mayor, about 17 kilometers away from the regional capital of Tacloban City, a highly urbanized city whose voters are now ineligible to vote for any provincial posts.

Petilla thus said that with its vast potential, her running for mayor of Palo would not be a political demotion on her part.

"What is important is that I can provide service to the people," she said.

Petilla served as governor of Leyte for nine years before she stepped down in 2004 to give way for her son, Jericho. She also served as Leyte's congressional representative for a single term which ended in 2007.


Source:
http://leytesamardaily.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9208&Itemid=233