A “lesser” known but approachable Jala has caught the attention of City Mayor Dan Neri Lim that if indeed he makes good his threat to run for a Congress seat in the third district, the outspoken city executive will not think twice to support him. Two of Dr. Elpidio Jala’s kin in former congressmen Eladio Jala and Adam Relson Jala are more popular than the former division superintendent but the political aspirant is staking his claim to the Congress slot as Liberal Party original. It came as no surprise therefore why Jala was bruited around as the LP bet in the third district owing to his party affiliation in 2010 when he ran for vice governor under this banner, now the party in power. Jala has admitted that he has conferred with Laguna Lake Development Authority General Manager Neric Acosta about the matter.

Jala, who served as superintendent of the Tagbilaran and Bohol divisions of the Department of Education prior to his retirement, is a brother of Eladio, a three-term congressman, and uncle of Adam Relson who did not seek reelection to give way to Rep. Arthur Yap. Yap was elected unopposed in last year’s election, ending four successive terms of a Jala congressman in the district. The two Jalas were always bruited about as possible aspirants to challenge Yap who is among the loyalists of former Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo perceived to be the targets of the present administration. Dr. Jala was initially set to run for Congress last year but was prevailed upon by Mayor Lim to run for vice-governor instead.

Now that the tables are turned and the LP has become the dominant party, new recruits swarmed to it without delay. Among the new LP in the province are erstwhile Lakas-NUCD stalwarts including Gov. Edgar Chatto, Vice Gov. Concepcion Lim and Trinidad Mayor Roberto Cajes. Stung by accusations that it was not much different to its predecessors, the LP sent Acosta to reach out to disgruntled LP “originals” including Dr. Jala. When pressed to comment on a possible congressional bid this time, Dr. Jala said he will discuss the matter with Mayor Lim. Commenting on this, the mayor said he was “flattered”. “Wherever he is comfortable, I will support him,” Lim declared. The mayor said that when Dr. Jala gave way to Yap last year, it was a favor that he will always treasure. “If he decides to run for Congress, it will be my turn to support him,” he added.

Speaking during his program “Sa Motuo Lang” over Station DyTR last Friday, Lim said the entry of Dr. Jala complicates the position of Loboc Mayor Leon Calipusan who is also being bruited as the other LP candidate. “Between the two of them, Dr. Jala has better chances of being declared the official candidate considering that he is the original LP,” he added. Calipusan was a member of the Lakas until his third term despite his disagreements with Yap. Soon after Chatto switched to LP, Calipusan was perceived to enjoy the governor’s support for the position. While Chatto and Yap were identified as staunched GMA allies until last year, the two can no longer expect to be on the same ticket considering that the third district solon is not acceptable to the LP. The city mayor said that if Jala gets the nomination, Calipusan would be left out in the cold. Lim, however, added that the Loboc mayor is a grown up man who can take care of himself.