Seventy percent of the voters of the First District of Bohol will re-elect Cong. Rene L. Relampagos as their representative while only 21% prefer contender Mayor Dan Neri Lim, HNU Research Center revealed during the Bohol Poll Pre-Election period presentation last Friday. The said survey conducted from April 21 – May 5, 2013 also raised the eyebrows of political observers that even in the City of Tagbilaran where Mayor Dan Lim is the mayor, an overwhelmingly high percentage of 75% will vote for his contender Cong. Relampagos as their first district representative, while a very low 20% will vote for Dan Lim. Cong. Relampagos’ current rating of 70% is 8 points higher than his previous rating in March which was 62 %, while Dan Lim’s rating decreased even more, from 24% to only 21% now. The said survey also showed that Cong. Relampagos scored way higher than Lim in all the groups that participated in the survey. He was assured very high percentage of votes in both urban and rural, in all economic classes, both male and female and in all age brackets. He gained an extremely high percentage of 89 % among aged 18-24, followed by 82 % among Class ABC and aged 25-34.

The increase in the percentage gained by Cong. Relampagos made him and his supporters happy because despite the sensational yet unfeasible promises given by Dan Lim’s group to the voters, many of the voters still know what leadership and public service mean. Cong. Relampagos said he interprets the high percentage of 70 % as a genuine acknowledgement and appreciation of his constituents to his sincere service to them. He added that he is happy because his constituents have seen his efforts in the implementation of his various programs and projects and that they understand that Cong. Relampagos has a strong and clear vision for his district and that he is the best choice if they want continuous progress in the district. When pressed to comment on his overwhelming high percentage of 75 % voters’ preference in Tagbilaran City, Cong. Relampagos said, “I think the answer is very clear and I will put it simply: The people in Tagbilaran have tried and tested Dan Lim’s brand of leadership and they don’t want him to propagate it to an even larger extent as first district representative, for this matter. The numbers are just confirming the very loud cry of the people of Tagbilaran for change.”

Cong. Relampagos also expressed elation that other Liberal Party bets are leading in the survey. His brother in law and LP’s Tagbilaran city mayoralty bet, Atty. Dodong Gonzaga is also leading in the survey with a percentage of 47 % against two other contenders, Baba Yap and Abe Lim who gained 28 % and 16 % of the votes, respectively. Finally, Cong. Relampagos expressed gratitude to those who continue to believe in his abilities and dedication as a public servant. He also thanked God for a bigger chance to continue to serve as first district representative for another term. He added that in fact, he is thankful to Him for guiding him during his first-term as a neophyte lawmaker and for having given him rare opportunities. Some of those rare opportunities are his chairmanship of one of the standing house committees, the Committee on Human Rights wherein as chairman, he was able to enact two important laws: the “Anti-enforced Disappearance Act of 2012” and the “Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013” which Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III signed in time for the EDSA Celebration this year.

He was also appointed to be Head of the Secretariat of the Prosecution Panel during former Chief Justice Corona’s impeachment trial that earned him a formal recognition by the House of Representatives led by House Speaker Sonny Belmonte. Despite being a neophyte lawmaker, he was able to author 32 laws, 19 of which have national significance while 13 have local significance. Likewise, he was able to co-author 98 laws. Cong. Relampagos was also key in making direct flights from countries like South Korea to Bohol happen soon. Cong. Relampagos acknowledged that indeed the mighty hands of God have been with him in his service and he said that this alone encourages him and motivates him to try harder for another term. Finally, Cong. Relampagos continues to appeal for a peaceful and honest election on Monday. (by Jill Christianae R. Robinson)