The commitment to change.

This is the first requirement given by Mayor Conchita Toribio to politicians who want to join Ang Bag-ong Bol-anon (ABB). The lady mayor issued this statement after her camp started receiving feelers from politicians who want to become part of her group. “Every person who wants to be part of Bag-ong Bol-anon must be committed to change otherwise it will only be nothing more than transactional politics,” she asserted. Mayor Che said the reason why she gave in to the clamor to run for governor was the realization that Bohol needs new leaders who will take it to the next level. The mayor pointed out that she is already comfortable with what she has and has nothing to prove for herself. She admitted that she agonized over the decision to run because it will only mean more sacrifices, pain and trouble. “There is nothing in it for me because I already have all that I want in life,” the lady mayor declared. Her subordinates confirm what she said, swearing that the mayor has warned all of them against accepting bribes in exchange for favors. They insisted that the mayor would explode with fury when she hears talk of SOP (which refers to the cut that goes to politicians for projects) that they no longer bring it up with her. As of last count, a staff said Mayor Che in fact has collectibles from the municipality amounting to P2 million from reimbursements.

Tagbilaran Mayor Dan Lim, the mayor’s most visible campaigner, said Mayor Che’s anti-corruption campaign is one reason why he is going all-out for her. Another strong point is her firm commitment to peace and order which is one of the biggest threats to progress and development. Mayor Che has started to make people sit up and wonder, among them political figures who want to jump into her bandwagon this early in the ballgame. The lady mayor, however, made it clear that those who want to join her should also embrace the principles and visions that she is pushing. On top of this is the commitment to work for fresh change from the culture of apathy and indifference that breed corruption and opportunism. She admits that this is a tall order but insists that for Bohol to get out of the slump, it requires drastic measures that includes house-cleaning in the political arena.   “Those who merely want things to remain do not have a place in our group,” she stressed. Mayor Che noted that the change that Bohol needs will require a new mindset because it will be something new. “You cannot expect anything new if there is no change in your thinking and your perspective,” she added.