Even before the third congressional race starts, former cong.. Eladio M. Jala was reported to be in “about face mode” after he was shown the bias of Malacanang right in his own doorstep, towards his presumptive political foe. The bias towards Agriculture Sec. Arthur Yap, Jala's perceived opponent, became more pronounced and telling last Tuesday when he was sworn in as new member of the ruling Lakas-Kampi CMD coalition. Adding insult to injury was the presence of the entire Macapagal Arroyo Cabinet which held its meeting in Yap 's adopted hometown of Loboc last Tuesday. Loboc is also the birthplace of the former solon. The elder Jala is supposed to take the place of his son incumbent Cong. Adam Relson Jala. Since Jala's reported withdrawal from the congressional fight, the former lawmaker was nowhere to be found. He refused to return calls regarding confirmation that he was out of the contest. It was his party mate in Lakas V-Gov. Julius Ceasar Herrera who broke the news that Jala was quitting from the third district congressional derby. Herrera was in Manila when he announced Jala's about face decision.
Post reporters who tried to stake out Jala's residence since yesterday morning to get a word or two from the former congressman returned empty handed. Even his elder brother Division Supt. Elpedio Jala was also kept in the dark of Jala's political plans. The school official said decisions of this kind should be considered as a family matter. According to reports reaching the Post, Jala considered a position offered to him instead of squaring off with the fair-haired boy of Malacanang. The former legislator was offered as the next chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The offer came two days after Yap made the hometown decision of joining the Lakas-Kampi-CMD in Loboc town. The occasion was also Yap 's 44th birthday. No less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was the guest of honor during the swearing in rites. The same reports said that Jala was prevailed upon by the President during the Bohol Lakas officials' meeting in Manila last week to back out from the race apparently to give way to Yap. This makes Yap a virtual winner in the 3rd district congressional race if no one from the opposition will dare to slug it out with him.
Yap , who has been very visible in the district in recent months, was sworn in by Lakas president and Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita. Yap 's induction was witnessed by party Political Affairs Adviser Gabriel Claudio and Lakas standard bearer Defense Sec. Gilbert Teodoro and other cabinet members and local officials in a jampacked crowd at the Joventino Digal Sports Center in Loboc. Town and barangay officials of the 19 towns of the 3rd district plus other two districts were invited to Yap 's oath-taking. Yap was presented with a birthday cake by his wife, Carol Varquez Gaw Yap, and her mother-in-law during the gathering just a few minutes after PGMA arrived at the gym. Unlike any other swearing in of Lakas stalwarts, President Arroyo just remained sitting at front row of the gym while Yap 's took his oath as new Lakas member.
The Jalas (father and son) were nowhere to be found during the swearing in of Yap inside the center. But they were spotted at the Cabinet meeting held at the tourist center just across the Loboc river. As this developed, local Lakas-Kampi and local officials in Bohol are still in disarray. Jockeying for an official endorsement to be an official bet of their respective local turfs is commonplace. If no solution of this situation, they are expected to fight it out in the coming May 10, 2010 elections. The continued tug-of-war to be official Lakas candidate for governor between Vice-Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera and last term Rep. Edgardo M. Chatto, who are both Lakas stalwars and in their last terms, is apparently bothering Gov. Erico B. Aumentado, who is the provincial Lakas chair. As of now, he cannot make a decision yet maybe until after the Lakas national convention on November 19. He told his weekly radio program, “Governor Reports,” that both are instrumental in his pet development projects achieved by the provincial government during his three year term.
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