Fresh from a complete shut out to rule the town's municipal federation president of the Sangguniang Kabattan, the son of Loay Mayor Rosemarie Lim-Imboy and Board Member Brigido “Boy” Imboy loomed in the political horizon as the next SK president in the provincial level. This developed as nobody from among the 23 SK chairs representing as many barangays to run against Jethro Nathaniel Lim-Imboy. The uncontested position was believed to be the SK's way of co-opting with the town mayor who wanted to consolidate her power base from all sectors let alone the youth vote of Loay's changing political landscape. With Lim-Imboy's triumph, talks were ripe that if there's anybody qualified money-for-money, pound-for pound to run against him, it will be the new president Oblacion I, in this city.

A protégé of City Mayor Dan Neri Lim, Mary Liene Karaan may the candidate to beat in a one-on-one showdown with the Loay wonder kid. The young Karaan, however, is yet to formalize her bid apparently waiting for the go-signal of her patron, Mayor Lim. Karaan, eldest child of Poblacion I barangay captain Arlene Karaan, succeeds outgoing city SK chair Rammie Alturas of Barangay Dampas. Aside from Karaan, the other city federation SK officers are Shaira Ayeng of Poblacion II, vice president; Cecille Lorraine Benablo, Bool, secretary; Zeus Zamora, Taloto, treasurer; Clement Paulinel Ingking, Booy, auditor; Jane Paulien Budlong, Dao, PRO; and Jefferson Titus Goloso, Dampas, sergeant-at-arms. The city federation election was held Saturday at Sayas Restaurant. It was facilitated by the election committee chaired by SK chairman Harrison Bustamante of San Isidro and members Fermin Jyn Montes of Cabawan and Khrisanthus Matuod of Manga.

The new officers were immediately proclaimed by the election committee which was witnessed by Tagbilaran local government operations officer Mardonio Roxas. The federation election was also attended by SK chairpersons Joseph Anthony Migriño of Mansasa, Nea Jean Gumba, Ubujan; Florencio Sayson III, Poblacion III, Phil Rodney Magallano, Cogon and Art Chrisjohn Tapa, Tiptip. Interviewed after her election, Karaan said her first priority is to foster closer relationship with her fellow SK presidents. Karaan said that she will also reach out to those who are identified with the opposing political camp. Her mother is a trusted aide of Tagbilaran Mayor Dan Lim who served as executive assistant until she responded to the clamor to run as Poblacion I barangay chair.

The elder Karaan won, unseating the incumbent who had served as barangay chair for two terms. According to the SK president, she has already started communicating with her peers as a confidence-building measure. Karaan said she will also spearhead the holding of a barangay legislation seminar in order to train barangay SK officers on the intricacies of the legislative process. “Since all of us are first-timers, it is good to start right with the correct foundations,” she added. Karaan, whose father is a policeman, said she will also give priority to anti-drug activities because this is a problem confronting many youths. She vowed to continue the sports development program of her predecessor as a venue to draw young people away from drugs and other anti-social activities.

LADY MAYOR'S SON

With the lady mayor's son rising from her giant shadow, the young Lim-Imboy's victory in Loay will propel him to seek the provincial SK post. As of yesterday, nobody from the ranks of SK federation presidents in the towns has shown interest to contest Imboy's bid. Interviewed yesterday, the doting mother said there's no turning back for his son's candidacy “come hell or high water”. Hell or high water here was taken to mean that for the Loay mayor, his son's foray into SK politics was “non-negotiable”. As if saying she already “cross the Rubicon”, the young Imboy's bid was already a done deal. In fact, this early, many mayors acting as “handlers” of their SK wards have already pledged their support to the Imboy son. In the run-up to the SK provincial polls, the mayors' imprimaturs was crucial so much so that in the “vote-buying” mechanism, the municipal executives were always part of the equation. Lim-Imboys were no stranger to money politics. Now on her second term, the lady Imboy took Loay by storm when she won two successive elections with overwhelming superiority in terms of logistics. What apparently drove SK handlers to gravitate towards the shadow of the young Imboy was the possibility that his parents will take no chances if money indeed changes hands in the coming SK polls if at all someone with a perceived financial wallop materializes out of the blue and make a go for the SK vote.

Since all SK presidential hopefuls were not created equal, the most crucial part of the game was to whom the bell tolls as far as Gov. Edgar Chatto is concerned. Just like any election outside his own position, Gov. Chatto's choice is vital especially the coming one where he is expected to throw his lot to whoever he believes has the competence and integrity to lead the provincial SK. Short of the governor's endorsement will make it harder for any pretender to the SK crown even how moneyed he or her parents are. It was public knowledge that the governor can always muscle his way any mayor who shows recalcitrance in his wishes for a common party candidate. The new Loay SK president succeeded her own sister Rochelle Brigitte Imboy in the best tradition of continuing the succession process of “all in the family. The other SK officials in Loay elected last Dec. 3 were: Ralph Mikko Pamaybay, vice president; Joanna Florbel Banac, secretary; Ma. Jennifer Namoc, treasurer; Lou Marylee Galgo, auditor; Ruth Batulan, Paul Simon Angelo Cantoneros, Alfred Adiong, Josephine Amoy, Jacquiline May Laibante ug Norman Celo Libot, PROs; Glenn Ryan Juson ug Emmanuel Paredes, sgts.-at-arms. (With reports from Sen Guingguing)