V-Gov. Julius Ceasar Herrera yesterday took exceptions to published reports last week regarding insinuations that he was joining the party of Sen. Manuel Villar. The vice governor's statement came on the heels of reliable reports emanating from Manila late yesterday that nothing tangible came out in Friday's meeting with Presidential Political Adviser Gabriel Claudio with Bohol ruling party leaders. The Manila meeting was supposed to settle the issue who will compose the Lakas-Kampi CMD slate in Bohol —from the governor to the three party frontrunners for congressmen. Attended by Gov. Erico Aumentado, V-Gov. Herrera and Cong. Edgar Chatto, Roberto Cajes and Adam Relson Jala, the meeting was supposed to settle the issue who will make up in the Bohol Lakas-Kampi slate. The gubernatorial nomination is being contested by Chatto and Herrera.

NOT JOINING VILLAR' S PARTY

In a statement, Herrera brushed aside a Chronicle report hinting that he was out to swear under the Nacionalista Party of Sen. Villar. Saying that he did not know if he would feel amuse or be irritated, Herrera said it was misleading for the newspaper to speculate that he was slated to be an NP convert. In a bid to clarify facts, the vice governor said, that he is still a member of the Lakas-CMD-UMDP. Secondly, he said, he left it to Gov. Aumentado, the matter of deciding whom he will support adding it was the Lakas party top leader who will make the ultimate decision. According to Herrera, whatever major political decision he'll make, he will always discuss it with Aumentado who is the Lakas provincial chairman. He lambasted other people's importuning on issues like these saying they show respect to the governor when he is present but undermine his leadership when he is not around. Zeroing on the title of the story, Herrera said it was intended to put him on the spot with both his party and Sen. Villar. But Herrera said he was not deterred between intrigues and legitimate issues. Herrera said when the campaign starts, he promised his constituents to present valid and legitimate issues so that they will be able to choose the right candidates in the 2010 elections.