Boholanos from all walks of life bid a tearful farewell to a well-respected former governor and congressman as he was interred yesterday at the Victoria Memorial Park, this city. Leading the cast of prominent personalities who sent off Cong. Erico Aumentado in his final resting place yesterday was senatorial aspirant Richard Gordon. Another friend of Aumentado when he was assigned here, Gen. Jesse Dellosa, AFP chief of staff, was also here to pay his last respects. A close friend of the fallen leader while he was tourism secretary, the former senator came as chair of the Red Cross Board of Governors. Aumentado was a former chair of the local Philippine National Red Cross. A publicly known ally-turned-political-nemesis and currently challenger to the late congressman’s second district reelection bid, acknowledged on a personal note that indeed the late congressman touched his life. In one of the series of eulogies for the late lawmaker delivered during the Friday’s necrological rites and public viewing of his remains at the Bohol Cultural Center, this city, League of Municipalities of the Philippines, Bohol Chapter president Roberto Cajes, in a message read for him by LMP-Bohol Vice President (1st District) Albur Mayor Efren Tungol said, “what lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us.”

“The demise of Congressman Aumentado is both deeply and profoundly felt by the Boholanos and more so by his beloved family. Collectively, the mayors of the province give their tribute to the man who not only made significant contributions to the entire province, but who also, at one point or the other, touched and influenced our lives in different ways,” Cajes said. “Aumentado deserves a monument fitting for a great man. But his spirit and legacy will extend far beyond any monument, road and other physical manifestations which we later choose to honor him. However, a monument or any accolade would certainly pale in comparison to Congressman Aumentado’s legacy. After all, life is not about monuments or honor, it’s about learning from each other and growing with one another,” the message further reads. It may be recalled that Cajes, who, in 2001 was still reeling from a previous provincial board defeat, got a much-needed political infusion when he was chosen the anointed-heir apparent to the second congressional district throne soon to be vacated by Aumentado, who was completing a three-term streak ending that year and was challenging then sitting governor Rene Relampagos. Cajes and Aumentado both won in that elections and they also both completed their three-terms in a stylish undefeated fashion till 2010. But in the synchronized May 2010 national and local elections, Cajes and Aumentado had a falling out.

Bridges burn and opposing camps rise as negotiations failed to settle the conflicting interests between the incumbent congressman Cajes who decided to field his wife Judith as his successor, against the interest of the comebacking Aumentado who wanted to regain his former seat as representative of the second district. Aumentado won in that election against Cajes’ wife, while outgoing congressman Cajes managed to win the seat as municipal mayor of Trinidad. In the coming May 13, 2013 elections, it is now Cajes himself becoming the challenger to the Aumentado second district seat. He is giving up the municipal mayor post to his wife, the former mayor Judith Del Rosario Cajes. The challenger further posted a threatening leverage against Aumentado when he got the official nomination and acceptance (CONA) of the ruling Liberal Party while Aumentado joined a multi-party coalition reportedly also aligned with the administration of President Noynoy Aquino. “What lives within us now is Congressman Aumentado’s fervor for the development of Bohol which steered the province to what it is now. For us who are left behind, it is our duty and obligation to make sure that all the good things that Congressman Aumentado did to our beloved province will be continued and will not just go to waste,” the Cajes message reads.

FINAL REST

Bohol politics’ undisputed holder of the title “Wonder Boy” was laid to his final resting place at past noon yesterday at the Victoria Memorial Park in Taloto District, this city. Incumbent Congressman Erico Boyles Aumentado (2nd District-Bohol) never tasted defeat in all his more than four decades in politics but at 72, he succumbed to a cardiac arrest while being treated of pneumonia at St. Lukes Medical Center in Global City. He died on Christmas night. Aumentado left behind wife Peregrina Adlaon Cabagnot-Aumentado, three sons, five daughters, 19 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. He was 72. The House of Representatives held a necrological service for the late Bohol legislator Thursday with about 50 congressmen in attendance. Aumentado, a member of the Lakas-Kampi Christian Muslim Democrats party, was part of the 9th, 10th, 11th and the present 15th Congress representing the second district of Bohol. He also served as board member and governor of Bohol.

GORDON ALL PRAISES TOO

Meanwhile, Richard Gordon asked Boholanos to emulate the late second district congressman whose visions and brand of leadership have changed for the better many lives of its people in the province. “The examples in good governance of the late congressman should be the source of inspiration among Boholano leaders,” the former senator said in his eulogy tendered during the necrological rites for the second district congressman held at the Bohol Cultural Center Friday. Gordon recalled that he and Aumentado were very good friends and that they both shared same aspirations for the good of the country and people. The Red Cross chairman is among the prominent leaders and achiever in their home province of Zambales. He cited Aumentado for the tourism boom of the province today. Bohol is now a prime tourism destination in the country and all Boholanos should be proud of this, Gordon added. The tourism and socio economic development of the province-island also experienced its highest surge at the time when Gordon was the tourism secretary and most of these years were during the time of Aumentado as governor of Bohol. Gordon recalled that his first visit to Bohol was for the same reason; - sending to its final resting place a very good friend. He was in this island-province when former President Carlos P. Garcia (8th president of thePhilippines (1957-1961) who died on June 14, 1971 was laid to rest in Tagbilaran City. Like Aumentado, Pres. Garcia also died of heart attack. CPG died at the age of 74.