By Rey Anthony Chiu

As reported earlier, the son of the late congressman Erico Aumentado, is stepping in to fill up the oversized shoes of his father who died as an incumbent second district lawmaker. Forty days after keeping the family’s silence, Aristotle C. Aumentado Bohol officially comes out to finally substitute his father, the late Aumentado who died before the campaign period for the 2013 midterm elections. “I am here to continue the legacy which my father left: a legacy of honest and selfless service and development,” he told local media members. Before Aumentado died December 25 of 2012, he reportedly appointed through his last will, Aristotle to be his substitute.

Some quarters and political analysts in Bohol also presumed that the wife Perigrina has a better clout and gets a better probability of keeping grip at the congressman’s followers, than a neophyte son. But, according to the rules of substitution as promulgated by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), it is the party’s call as to who it would nominate as the substitute. Accompanied by a throng of supports and a generous number of vehicles joining the motorcade to the Provincial Comelec Office, Aristotle Aumentado handed the NPC CONA to Bohol Election Supervisor Atty. Eliseo RZB Labaria a little over 10:00 February 4. With him was his mother Perigrina, wife Maria Vanessa Cadorna Aumentado and at least 8 mayors from Bohol’s second district. Seen during the submission of his substitution bid were mayors of Dagohoy Herminio Relampagos, San Miguel Claudio Bonior, Getafe Carry Boy Camacho, Buenavista Lowell Tirol, Danao Tomas Louis Gonzaga, Bien Unido Rey Niño Boniel, former Talibon Mayor Juanario Item and Ubay Eutiquio Bernales. “My candidacy has nothing different from the ways of my father where, in our hearts, genuine service has always been known,” Aumentado read his message during a press conference later.

“This is the kind of service which eases poverty which is being felt by our people in the second district. This is so because the fight against hunger has always been a big and immeasurable fight,” the young blood said. The young Aumentado, who has been the late congressman’s chief of staff at the House of Representatives, also added, with the mayors in the second district, we trust that our common vision of development can be attained because it is rooted in our being true to each other, to our people. He also pointed out that one key factor in their victory is true and honest service which is not just a promise, because we are one in this crusade. Himself a young entrepreneur who has shares in some three or more businesses, Aumentado admits that over other candidates, his edge is that being a rookie, it allows him to strive harder to be always there to make the team win. Other than already working in partnership with his district’s local official, this new politician said he has agreed with their mayors to go hard against illegal drugs which he calls, a menace to the society.