Jericho Petilla

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Loreto and the surname or paternal family name is Petilla.

Jericho Petilla
Governor of Leyte
Incumbent
Assumed office June 30, 2022
Preceded by	Leopoldo Petilla
In office June 30, 2004 – November 4, 2012
Preceded by	Remedios Petilla
Succeeded by	Maria Mimietta Bagulaya
12th Secretary of Energy
In office November 5, 2012 – April 30, 2015
President	Benigno Aquino III
Preceded by	Jose Rene Almendras
Succeeded by	Zenaida Monsada
Personal details
Born	Carlos Jericho Loreto Petilla (1963-04-29) April 29, 1963 Leyte, Philippines
Political party	NPC (2004–2007; 2024–present)
Other political affiliations	PDP–Laban (2021–2024) Liberal (2012–2021) Lakas–CMD (2007–2012)
Spouse	Frances Ann Regis Basilio
Children	5
Alma mater	Ateneo de Manila University (BS)
Website	Official website

Carlos Jericho "Icot" Loreto Petilla (born April 29, 1963) is a Filipino politician. He ran as a senator under the Liberal Party during the 2016 Philippine general election. A former Secretary of Energy during the administration of Benigno Aquino III, he is currently serving as Governor of Leyte since 2022 and previously from 2004 to 2012.

Early life

Petilla was born on April 29, 1963, the son of politicians Leopoldo Petilla and Remedios Loreto. He finished his Bachelor of Science in Management Engineering at the Ateneo de Manila University, the same school he attended during his high school days. After finishing college, Petilla became a college instructor and taught Computer programming subjects in Ateneo de Manila University for five years. He also became an IT consultant to various multinational companies.

His business interests included the IDCSI (International Data Conversion Solution Inc.) based in Mandaluyong, and FPOSI (Freight Process Outsourcing Solutions Inc) based in Palo, Leyte, where he is both president and chief executive officer (CEO). He is also the part-owner and consultant of DDC (Direct Data Capture) with business offices in the United Kingdom and New York, and Datahold in London.

Political career

In the 2004 Philippine general election, he divested his shares in his private investments to make a bid for governor of Leyte. He won during that year's election, defeating Sergio Apostol, a three-term congressman and then Presidential Legal Adviser.

His first 100 days in office saw the drafting of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Leyte Provincial Investment Code of 2004. The code aims to encourage investors to locate in Leyte with the salient feature of getting a 100% real property tax holiday for 5 years.

Petilla also supported the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) in approving the application of the Provincial Government of Leyte to convert the 6.9 hectares lot at Barangay Pawing, Palo, Leyte, where the developed Leyte Academic Center is located, into the Leyte Information Communication Technology (ICOT) Park.

2007 elections

Petilla accepted the nomination of the ruling Lakas-CMD party as one of its candidates for Senator under TEAM Unity in the 2007 Philippine general election. However, only days after he filed his candidacy, he withdrew his name from the coalition, with Boholano actor Cesar Montano acting as his replacement in the slate.

2016 elections

In June 2015, he stepped down as Secretary of Energy to prepare for a senatorial bid. He ran for senator under the Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid led by the Liberal Party (LP). His campaign centered on three major advocacies: energy, education and health. He failed to win a Senate seat, placing 18th out of 50 candidates with around 6.3 million votes.

Personal life

Petilla is the son of former Leyte governors Leopoldo E. Petilla (1992–1995) and Remedios "Matin" Loreto-Petilla (1995–2004). He is married to Frances Ann Basilio, former mayor of Palo, Leyte from 2019 until 2022, and they have five children. His brother Leopoldo Dominico, also known as "Mic", was governor from 2013 until 2022.