With V-Gov. Julius Ceasar Herrera out of the running, the mad scramble for official nomination of the Lakas Kampi-CMD for Bohol governor, now remains in the hands of the lone contender, Cong. Edgar Chatto of the first district. This developed after the other pretender to the Lakas blessing, V-Gov. Herrera, decided to shy away from the party nomination and went on to join the camp of Sen. Manuel Villar. The senator is running for president under the banner of the Nacionalista Party. Herrera and Provincial Administrator Tomas Abapo Jr. and a handful of mayors took their oath of office before Sen. Villar in rites Friday evening in Manila . Abapo is Herrera's running mate. In an earlier interview with Chatto, he said if he would finally become the official Lakas candidate for Bohol governor, loyalty to the party in power is one primary consideration, for nomination. As a loyal party man, Chatto is also considered as being close to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The congressman's closeness to the President must have provided the trigger mechanism for Herrera to jump ship before his gubernatorial rival is named as Lakas official candidate.
THE EXODUS
Making their own version of the exodus to Villar's party, Herrera and company trooped to the senator's home Friday evening which happened to be the start of the filing of certificates of candidacy for those who are up for election in 2010. Herrera's coterie of defectors formed part of the many Lakas stalwarts who joined Villar's party. When asked to comment on his defection, Herrera was quoted as saying that his band of Lakas deserters consisting of one provincial board member and two mayors and other leaders was only the initial salvo of a a massive defection to the party of Sen. Villar. Report reaching the Post last night revealed that Herrera was joined in the oath rites Friday evening by Board Member Bienvenido Molina, Jr., Mayor Paul Amper of Anda and Mayor Rey Nino Boniel of Bien-Unido and others. They were sworn in at about 6:30 PM last Friday at the Diamond Hotel in Manila by no less than Senator Villar. The following day other local leaders followed suit and took their oaths to NP before Villar in the latter's home. They included former Corella Mayor Nicanor Tocmo, former Albur Mayor Jose Ugdoracion, Sikatuna Poblacion captain Jose Ellorimo, former Anda Mayor Inday Simacio, Juanito Naraga and vice-mayor Tex Flor, both of San Isidro town, Anita Combrado of Pilar, (who is touted to run against Mayor Wilson Pajo), businessman Gerry Garcia of President Carlos P. Garcia (who is vying for board member of the 2nd district), and a certain Ayuban of Alicia, who is to contest Mayor Pedro.
EXCLUDED
Meanwhile, most of the Bohol provincial board members last week sharply reacted why they were not included in the list of delegates to the Lakas party national convention held in Manila last Thursday. In his communiqué dated Nov. 13, 2009 , Gov. Erico Aumentado sent out notice to the 38 municipal mayors, including the federated president of the Philippine Councilor's League Bohol chapter, Brigido Imboy, Jr., and City Vice-Mayor Jose Antonio Veloso. When informed that she was not included in the party convention, Liga ng Barangay federated president Concepcion O. Lim, blew her top why she was excluded from the list of delegates. Other provincial board members similarly situated were in the same angry mood. Wasting no time, Lim called the governor through her cell phone right then and there as the PB was about to start its regular session Tuesday. Lim later on got what she wanted, an assurance that board members were a part after all of Bohol delegates to the Lakas convention.
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