What are friends for?
Even at the expense of its own party mate, the permanent interest of friendship prevailed upon party loyalty in a major shake up that thrust an outsider former governor Rene Relampagos as the Lakas-Kampi CMD's choice for first district congressman, a coveted position soon to be vacated by Cong. Edgar Chatto. Holding the proverbial empty bag was Catigbian Mayor Roberto “Bertsal” Salinas who until lately was not hiding his dying ambition to become the next first district congressman vice Chatto. Sporting the party he was loyal to since elected mayor of Catigbian in 2004, Salinas was assured by no less than party chieftain Gov. Erico Aumentado as the first district congressional contender representing the ruling Lakas.
But his loyalty to the party became a “toothless tiger” when the party was given the choice to pick its own man in the district even if it means breaking party rules and tradition. It was clearly a case of close association that spelled the difference in putting Relampagos in the most coveted slot even if he were a virtual stranger to the party. Chatto and Relampagos were a virtual twosome when they were both holding the two top elective provincial positions before 2001. Before becoming congressman of the first district, Chatto was Relampagos' vice governor. It was one friendship that was cultivated through the years when Relampagos was still a struggling politician.
He defeated then incumbent governor David Tirol in 1998 thrusting the young stalwart into big time politics. He ran for reelection in 2001 only to be clobbered soundly by former congressman Erico Aumentado of the second district. The irony of his entry in the Lakas fold is that he will now be cohabiting with his former nemesis in Aumentado. A return bout between the two in 2004 also sent Relampagos reeling in the political canvass apparently vowing-- never again. He looked for a greener pasture in the third district to run for Congress only to be gobbled up by a virtual neophyte in Adam Relson Jala. Aumentado who remains the wily politician that he is a virtual shoo-in in his comeback bid as second district congressman. So far, Aumentado is the unchallenged bet in his old district although names have been floated that they are out to contest the governor's hold of the second district.
COLLECTIVE DECISION
In a check with Gov. Aumentado last night, he confirmed Relampagos' “ baptism of fire” as a Lakas coalition partner. The former governor was bringing with him in the coalition his identity as card-bearing member of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) which has standing partnership with the ruling Lakas. According to Gov. Aumentado, the choice of Relampagos was a collective decision of the dominant coalition in Bohol although he said he has no hand in the party's welcome to the ruling Lakas of the former governor. Among those who endorsed Relampagos are the three incumbent congressmen, former cong. Eladio Jala and Agriculture Sec. Arthur Yap. Although he seemed not to touch Relampagos as new party partner with a ten-foot pole, Aumentado said there's a need to keep the momentum of unity and cooperation especially in the choice of party candidates in Bohol.
The major realignment of party affiliation in Bohol including the defection of V-Gov. Julius Ceasar Herrera came at a at a time when the deadline for the filing of certificate of candidacy (COC) draws near. The Commission on Election set December 1, as the last day for the filing of COCs. With Salinas and Herrera the first casualties in the scramble for Lakas nomination, the next flash point is the choice of official candidates in the municipal level. As of last night, Aumentado said although Certificates of Nomination were already issued to some candidates for mayors including incumbents and other municipal officials, some bets in other towns are still under thorough scrutiny after more than one are eyeing the same position under the same party.
SHOCKED
As for Herrera, he is now safely taking shelter under the umbrella of Sen. Manuel Villar's Nacionalista Party. In a talk with Herrera last night, the vice governor said he was expecting that mayors are joining the NP especially if they are edged out by the ruling coalition. As for Salinas who is the president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) Bohol chapter, he was reported to have been shocked of the recent development that he was betrayed as a loyal Lakas party man. The Catigbian mayor was reported to have blamed Agriculture Sec. Yap of his current predicament. However, Yap countered that he was no hand in Relampagos' choice as official coalition bet for congressman in the first district. Salinas' suspicion on Yap was not without basis after it was gathered that it was the agriculture secretary who assured the former governor of his support in his bid for congressman in the first district. Relampagos used to be a third district voter when he opted to register in Tagbilsran City to concretize his plan to run for first district congressman.
No less than City Mayor Dan Neri Lim who confirmed to the Post that Yap has nothing to do with the choice of Relampagos. In fact, according to Mayor Lim, Yap was the last to sign Relampagos' endorsement after he has seen the names of Chatto, Cong. Roberto Cajes and the two Jalas—Adam Relson, the incumbent congressman and his father Eladio, the former solon. With Chatto bagging the official Lakas nomination, he was tasked by the party of breaking the sad news to Salinas. According to sources close to the negotiation for Salinas to back off in favor of Relampagos, the Catigbian mayor allegedly reacted sharply during the confrontation. The same source said Salinas was told in his home in Catigbian Friday morning that the certificate of nomination was “favorably” issued to LDP stalwart, Relampagos, his rival for congressional nomination.
Salinas was quoted as telling Chatto point blank, “Traydor man ka pre.” (You are a traitor partner). Chatto reportedly offered Salinas the position for board member of 1st district. But the latter refused and retorted to Chatto to let his wife, Pureza Chatto, to run instead. With Salinas out of the running, he was prevailed upon to run for mayor of Catigbian for his third and final term. He was already issued his own CONA. Salinas inquired what made the party decide to accommodate Relampagos, who is not even a party member, the source said that Chatto dragged the name of Yap as the one who wanted Relampagos to be the standard bearer for congressman of the first district. This irked the mayor even more since what the party hierarchy has done was to award the nomination to a non-party member like Relampagos and dumped in the process a loyal party member like him..(With reports from Ric ObedencIo.
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