ORMOC CITY, Leyte, Sept. 15 (PNA) -– The city mayor here formally joined the Liberal Party (LP), his wife confirmed.
Mayor Edward C. Codilla is one of the 181 officials who took their oath as new members of Liberal Party (LP). This was confirmed by Engr. Violeta T. Codilla, wife of the mayor, who was also sworn in as member along with Isabel Mayor Greg Cerillo and Marthon Solaña, vice mayor of neighboring Merida town.
Codilla said only the four of them from 4th District (northwest) Leyte went to Manila because they were informed abruptly about the oath-taking ceremony. She assured that there will be a swearing-in ceremony for new party members in the district.
The mayor’s wife said they chose to be under LP in gratitude to all the help extended to the people of Ormoc by President Benigno Aquino III and then Interior Secretary Mar Roxas during the aftermath of super typhoon Yolanda. The mayor ran as an independent in 2013.
She also confirmed that her husband will run for re-election and is expected to be challenged by actor Richard Gomez, husband of Rep. Lucy Marie Torres-Gomez. The Gomezes are also LP members and ran under the party’s banner in 2013.
Asked why she underwent party membership, Codilla said she is considering challenging Rep. Gomez’s position. According to her, she went the rounds of the entire district and was dismayed to find out that the congresswoman has neglected the villages.
She made consultations with village chiefs who told her that they missed the kind of service delivered by her father-in-law former Rep. Eufrocino Codilla Sr. who made it a point to come home from Manila every weekend to visit the communities.
As a workaholic, she believes she has what it takes to become a legislator. “God-willing, we can be of help to many people because we’re hands-on in our work especially in implementing infrastructure projects,” continues Codilla, who is the managing officer of their family-owned construction business. (PNA)
LAP/SQM/FNC
