At least 34 municipal mayors out of 48, some of them part of those who bolted to the Nacionalista Party last week, took their oath of office Friday as new converts of the newly-merged Lakas-Kampi combined. The “merry-go-round” of some municipal mayors came after Lakas-Kampi chair Erico Aumentado arrived home from abroad and after possibly being informed that the new ruling party was raided by NP president Sen. Manuel Villar while the governor was away. The NP raid netted 24 mayors in a dragnet spread out to boost Villar chances of winning the Bohol vote through majority of the mayors sheltering under his party which was believed to be awash with cash. Gov. Aumentado and the rest of the party bigwigs including the three Bohol congressmen—Edgar Chatto, Roberto Cajes, Adam Relson Jala and V-Gov. Julius Ceasar Herrera witnessed Friday's oath-taking. They also took their oath to the new party. Of the 34 new Lakas-Kampi recruits, seven are from the first district, 12 from the second district and 15 from the third district.

But there were those who remain loyal to their old party. In the first district, they are Mayors Alvin Uy of Baclayon, Cirilo Jalad of Alburquerque, Benedicto Alcala of Panglao, Dan Neri Lim of this city, Llyod Lopez of loon, Leoncio Evasco, Jr. of Maribojoc, Simplicio Yu Jr. of Calape and Luna Piezas of Tubigon. In the second district, those who did not participate in the swearing rites were CPG Mayor Tesalonica Boyboy, Mayors Nino Rey Boniel of B-Unido, and Judith Cajes of Trinidad. Mayors Rosemarie Lim-Imboy, Pedro Miano of Alicia, Fe Piezas of Guindulman and Manuel Molina of Carmen were third district mayors who skipped the swearing in ceremonies Friday. It was learned that some mayors who rallied behind Villar's party when it conducted its recruitment binge in Bohol two weeks ago also availed themselves of the perks afforded them under the Lakas-Kampi party. It was gathered during Friday's meeting that the new NP affiliates have sought a reconsideration of their party membership in order to strengthen their alliance with the combined administration party.

Not all those who took their oath under the Lakas-Kampi were incumbents. Former mayors Benecio Uy of Baclayon, Efren Tungol of Alburquerque, Ben Redulla of Maribojoc, Carlos Labor of Cortes, Jose Torralba of Tagbilaran, Tranquilina Maniwang of Sikatuna and Marianita Garcia of B-Unido also became instant converts of the new ruling party. Board Members Jose Veloso, Alfonso Damalerio II, Ma. Fe Lejos, Amalia Tirol, Ben Molina, Aster Piollo, Corazon Galbreath and PCL president Brigido Imboy also joined the exodus to the new party. Former congressman Eladio Jala also swore in as new party member. The first district mayors who took their oath included Vito Rapal of Corella, Apolinaria Balistoy of Cortes, Ireneo Calimpusan of Sikatuna, Victoria Chatto of Balilihan, Cecilia Rebosura of Antequera, Luciano Bongalos of Dauis, and Roberto Salinas of Catigbian.

The second district mayors in the list are Juanario Item of Talibon, Eutiquio Bernales of Ubay, Mayor Theresa Camacho of Getafe, Claudio Bonior of San Miguel, Mayor Jimmy Torrefranca of Sagbayan, Mayor Hermogenes Diezon of Clarin, Hermie Relampagos of Dagohoy, Apolinar Gumanid Jr. of San Isidro, Jose Jono Jumamoy of Inabanga, Thomas Louis Gonzaga of Danao, and Elsa Tirol of Buenavista. Third district mayors who remain in the camp are Telesforo Balagosa of Lila, Sylvia Adame of Dimiao, Henrietta Gan of Valencia, Myrna Scheurs of Garcia-Hernandez, Exuperio Lloren of Jagna, Manuel Tan of Duero, Paul Amper of Anda, Sergio Amora of Candijay, Stephen Rances of Mabini, Leon Calipusan of Loboc, Fanuel Cadeliña of Bilar, Gregoria Pepito of Batuan, Simplicio Maestrado Jr. of Sierra-Bullones, Ceferino Digal of Sevilla, and Wilson Pajo of Pilar. Meanwhile, Aumentado chose to stay mum on a proposed local line-up, including the answer to Mayor Rapal query on his choice for Corella during the Thursday's meeting. The governor explained that choosing a candidate follows a process, without mentioning any criteria.