The political alignments will be known in two weeks' time. This was the prediction of Vice Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera when pressed to comment on the emerging split of the Lakas-Kampi in Bohol.  “Everything is fluid until this time so it is better to wait,” he added. The administration Lakas whose merger with Kampi was recently upheld by the Comelec is in danger of being split down the middle in next year's polls.  Gov. Erico Aumentado, the acknowledged party head in Bohol , is no longer eligible for reelection and is seeking to reclaim his old congressional seat in the second district. Herrera, who had expressed his desire to succeed Aumentado prior to the 2007 local elections, is expected to tangle with first district Rep. Edgar Chatto who is also vacating his seat. Chatto counts on the support of fellow solons Rep. Roberto Cajes and Adam Relson Jala and his father, three-term Cong. Eladio Jala, who will run in his place. “For the last nine years, I worked hard to prepare myself for this opportunity to serve the province as an executive,” he noted. Herrera said he revealed this desire to Aumentado, Chatto, Cajes and Jala three years ago.  “I even told them that if there is anyone else interested in the position, let us discuss this right now,” he recalled, but there were no objections then. Herrera said it therefore came as a surprise when Chatto declared that he was running early this year.

The vice-governor recalled that the stories that he was going to run in the first district came from Chatto's camp obviously to confuse the people. Only last week, rumors circulated that he was also withdrawing, which drew a sharp rebuke from Herrera who blame Chatto's camp for it. “I thought the insincerity that caused the misery of the coconut farmers during the Marcos years is gone. I am mistaken,” the vice-governor shot back. Herrera noted that while he is eager to start his bid, he has deferred any major moves out of respect for Aumentado. “As the highest-ranking party official in the province, he should have the last word,” the vice-governor added. He also refused to comment on reports that 10 out of the 14 mayors in the second district are supporting him saying Aumentado should be the one to validate that both as provincial head and returning congressman. The vice-governor asked his supporters in the town to stretch their patience a little bit more because the final line-ups will be known more or less in two weeks' time. “After that, we will pull out all stops,” Herrera warned.