Before tongues start wagging anent the absence of Board Member Josephine Socorro Jumamoy during the 72 nd natal celebration of Cong. Erico Aumentado, the second district solon was just as quick in his denial that there was no political undertone about his close ally being nowhere to be found in the birthday party held in Ubay last Friday. Apologetic for the lady board member’s no-show, Cong. Aumentado volunteered the information that his “friend” was indisposed. In fact, the congressman also said that Jumamoy was absent during Friday’s session of the Sangguniang Panlalwigan (SP). The absence of Jumamoy fuelled speculation during Aumentado’s birthday bash that it was due mainly to their smoldering conflict over the controversy surrounding the planned Cantacoy hydro-power project in the towns of Inabanga and Danao. Anticipating the occurrence of a power shortage in Bohol in the next five years, the congressman of the second district worked for the development of the vast hydro source in Danao and Inabanga as a source of cheap electric power. For political pundits, it bears watching that the tiff of two political stalwarts that resulted in the apparent “burning of political bridges behind” given their vaunted combination spelled the difference in second district politics. The combined might of Aumentado and Jumamoy who represented two of the district’s vote-rich towns is a force to reckon with that any gubernatorial pretender in 2013is casting a moist eye to have the two of them in their fold if only to assure a provinciwide lead of at least 40,000 votes. Jumamoy has the command votes of Inabanga while the veteran lawmaker has Ubay at its beck and call.

FURIOUS

Although Jumamoy is still furious about how the project is being prosecuted citing alleged failure of proponents to address concerns regarding social preparations, the lady board member maintained her distance from having “eye contact” with Cong. Aumentado pending compliance with the board member’s well-grounded complaints. With the two former allies no longer seeing eye to eye, have they become strange bedfellows after their peculiar alliance that dated back in 2001 when Aumentado won as Bohol governor for his first term? There’s no telling that Cong. Aumentado and Board Member Jumamoy, after sharing the same political bed for more than ten years, have since parted ways. Should this happen, the waiting arms of their perceived political enemies are lurking in the sidelines ready to welcome them with open arms, The attendance during Aumentado’s birthday celebration became fodder in Bohol’s rumor mill after the other board members from the second district-Rumolo Cepedoza and Gerardo Garcia, were also conspicuously absent. But Aumentado was fast in his rebuttal to disabuse any political meaning to the absence of Garcia, a party mate. He said, Garcia, was not around during the party, but he was the spearhead of the awarding ceremony of the ABC basketball tournament that highlighted the celebration. Along with Jumamoy, Garcia was listed in the program as doing the doing honos of awarding the trophies and cash prizes. Board Member Cepedoza , one of the vocal critics of the Cantacoy project was not included in the program.

2 SENATORIAL HOPEFULS

The absence of the three board members and at least five municipal mayors of the 14 in the second district, was offset by the presence of two senatorial hopefuls who lent more currency to the affair. Former Las Pinas Rep. Cynthia Villa and Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay, were two of the principal guests of the celebrator. Cong. Aumentado turned 72 last Friday and the occasion was a joint birthday celebration with his wife Grennie. Although the veteran legislator downplayed any implication with the Cantacoy fiasco about the absence of prominent personalities in his birthday which was also markd a 46- year milestone in his productive years as public servsnt, The congressman said despite the misgibings of the lady board member towards the project, he is still optimistic that the problems the board frok Insbabnga were rauising will be addressed. In fact, he said his recomendartion to the prpject proponent was to stop all activities in the field pending compliance of envirinmentakl questions posited by Jumamoy.

SARO CLARIFIED

Meanwhile, Cong. Aumentado clarified that the controversy surrounding the release of the Sub-Allotment Release Order (SARO) for the construction of an access road leading to the Cantacoy project was brought about by its approval by the Department of Budget and Management through the Department of Public Work and Highways central office. A news report insinuated that a powerful politician was behind the SARO release when in fact t no less than the DPWH which obligated the funding per DBM release order. The amount of P4.473,375 became controversial after Cong. Aumentado felt alluded to in the news report although he denied having any knowledge about its release. The fund was used to construct an access road leading to the hydro project in Cantacoy.