Monday’s elections saw an unmistakable pattern; win some, lose some, the rise and fall of political dynasties and a show of force of new faces poised as new overlords in Bohol’s political landscape. As shown by the results, veteran politicians who for decades lorded it over in their respective fiefdoms found themselves beaten by virtual greenhorns. Except for the second district congressional showdown, the elections in the provincial level and in the first and third districts, was a breeze to their respective re-electionist- bets. Gov. Edgar Chatto won by a wide advantage, an estimated more than 200,000, against his highly-touted contender Carmen Mayor Che Toribio de los Reyes. Hyped in the early going of the hustings as oozing with tremendous cash, the fighting lady mayor was no match to Chatto’s juggernaut during the day of balloting on May 13. Chatto’s running mate V-Gov. Concepcion Lim was equally too much against newcomer Dr. Sharleen Corral Lim who also pooled a commanding lead against the opponent.

Another big winner was re-electionist Cong. Rene Relampagos who clobbered his bitter rival City Mayor Dan Neri Lim with a comfortable margin. Except for Chatto, all the winners were proclaimed Friday by the provincial board of canvassers composed of provincial election supervisor lawyer Leonil Marco Castillano, as chairman; Provincial Prosecutor Macario Delusa, vice-chair; and auditor Anecita Maglahus of the Commission on Audit (COA), secretary.  Liberal Party standard bearer Gov. Chatto was proclaimed a day earlier by the PBOC. Official results gave reelected Chatto a whooping margin of more than 200,000 votes. He garnered a total of 380,964 against feisty Carmen Mayor Toribio delos Reyes’ 164,904 votes, official Comelec tally showed. Vice-Gov. Lim amassed a total of 308,810 against her opponent Sharlene Corral-Lim’s 112,112 total votes.  The congressional fight in the second district was close but newcomer Aumentado bested comebacking former congressman Roberto Cajes in a one-on-one encounter.

In Tagbilaran City, the elections saw the fall of the emerging Lim dynasty after Dr. Abe Lim, lost to his nephew, the young upstart John Geesnel “Baba” Yap. Dr. Abe was fielded by his younger brother City Mayor Dan Neri Lim, whose third and final term is ending. It was a bitter fight to the finish among relatives as the Lims tangled in a do-or-die contest that saw the young Lim prevailing upon his uncle.

The third district was a walk in the park for Cong. Arthur Yap who was unopposed.

In the choice of board members, senior board member Dionisio D. Balite (UNA) is likely to remain as head of the pack with his total of 113,027 votes in the third district race. He is followed by the former schools division superintendent Dr. Elpidio Jala (LP), 97,058. Incumbent board member Godofreda O. Tirol (LP) came in third place with a total of 88,401 votes and reelectionist Brigido Z. Imboy (LP), 77,444.

 In the first district, incumbent Dr. Cesar Tomas Lopez (LP) got a total of  96,960 votes. Tailing him is reelectionists lawyers Abeleon Damalerio (LP), 94,622 and . Benjie Arcamo (LP), 93,028 votes.

Neophyte Jovanna C. Jumamoy (LP), daughter of now-Mayor-elect Josephine Socorro Jumamoy, garnered a total of 86,055 to stay on top in the second district race for board members. She is followed by Engr. Gerry Garcia (UNA) with 77,449 and come backing board member lawyer Tomas Abapo, Jr. (UNA) with 60,426 votes.

21 TOWNS

As the election smog settled, 21 towns have elected new chief executives while another 27 mayors get fresh mandates. The newcomers constitute about 43.7%, already a sizable number to signal a new path of change, perhaps towing the line of PNoy’s Daang Matuwid.

The political trend was further highlighted in the senatorial result with a 9-3 equation, favoring the ruling Liberal Party.

END OF DAYS

In the town of Anda, long -serving mayor Paulino Amper who ran under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) Party lost to a newcomer, a sibling Metodio ‘Dodong’ Amper of the Liberal Party. His wife, incumbent mayor Angelina Simacio who slid down as vice mayor candidate won by a slim margin of less than 200 votes (3,666) against LP candidate Enie Makinano who gathered 3,590 votes.

Building the Amper dynasty for 25 years, Paulino, the patriarch, served as mayor since the 70s, while his wife Angelina had served in both capacities as mayor and vice mayor, - but only when the former completes a three-term cycle.

In Candijay, an attempt to pass on power, from father to son, failed as the son of outgoing mayor Boboy Amora lost to a newcomer-contractor Christopher Tutor. The Amora clan had controlled the town since before martial law; continued by the Cimagalas’ brother and sister transition. The Amoras and Cimagalas are first degree cousins, (their mothers being Amora sisters).

In neighboring Mabini, incumbent mayor Esther Fostanes Tabigue survived for a second term, despite the joint forces of powerful political clans of Ayag, Rances, Bernales who were determined to boot her out from office.

In Panglao, veteran politician Benedicto “Dodong” Alcala lost to Nila Montero and in Dauis, incumbent mayor Jimmy Jimenez also lost to a woman barangay chair Meriam Sumaylo. In Baclayon, comebacking former mayor Benny Uy failed to retake the mayor’s seat from another Uy, the incumbent Mayor Alvin Uy.

In Loay, the LP slate of last-termer mayor May Lim-Imboy took all but one of all the posts up for grabs; - from mayor, vice mayor and seven seats in the municipal council. The incumbent vice mayor Paul Tejano and seven of his team mates (six incumbents) all lost in the elections.

In Garcia-Hernandez, incumbent mayor Miguelito Galendez lost in the rematch to former councilor-businesswoman Tita Gallentes while in Jagna, former three-term mayor Exam Lloren lost in his comeback bid to first termer Fortunato Abrenilla.

Former mayor Lloren’s loss spilled over as his wife reelectionist Nimfa and brother, comebacking three-termer councilor Senen also lost in the municipal council race.

In Duero town, incumbent vice mayor Patton Olano, considered the heir-apparent of the former mayor Cornelius Ocay who migrated to the United States, lost to a woman mayoralty candidate Connie Amparo of the Liberal Party.

LORDS OF THE RING

Meanwhile, in some towns, some considered political lords continued to reign; this time installing almost all members of the family to choice positions. The Jumamoys of Inabanga maintained their dominance as three-termer board member Roygie Jumamoy won and took over again the mayor’s seat while her daughter Jaja Jumamoy also won the top seat as board member for the second district. Son Jono Jumamoy, who completed his three term as mayor, also won as No. 1 councilor of the town. The vice-mayor elect is also Ronnie Jumamoy.

In Balilihan, hometown of Gov. Edgar Chatto, his wife Pureza won as vice mayor of reelectionist mayor Domie Chatto. Seven of the Chatto LP municipal councilors’ slate swept the council seat.

In Loon, the Lopezes still reign supreme as reelectionist mayor Lloyd Peter Lopez and a newcomer vice mayor Elvi Relampagos, brother of first district congressman Rene Relampagos both won. The Lopezes and Relampagos in Loon are first cousins.

In Trinidad, former mayor Judith Cajes again succeeded to retake the mayor’s seat. Her husband, incumbent mayor Roberto Cajes who ran as congressman for the second district, lost to Aristotle, the son of the late congressman Erico Aumentado.

The Gonzagas of Danao also maintained control as outgoing mayor Tom Gonzaga has successor Nati Gonzaga to the mayor’s seat. Their contenders, the Cepedozas, are close relatives.

In Sierra Bullones, former mayor Dodie Maestrado again is back as he beat in the counting comebacking former mayor Fredo Buslon. In Alicia town, the election was a “no contest” fight with Mayor Marnilou Ayuban and Vice Mayor Jun Balahay and eight councilors found no contenders to their respective positions.

Six new mayors come from Bohol’s first district, another six from second and nine from the third district.

First district towns with their brand-new mayors are Tagbilaran City (John Geesnell Yap), Dauis (Miriam Sumaylo), Panglao (Nila Montero), Cortes (Roberto Tabanera), Tubigon (Marlon Amila) and Catigbian (Virgilio Lurot).

This constitutes 40% of the 15 towns comprising the district.

For the second district, new mayors include Inabanga (Josephine Socorro Jumamoy), Getafe (Casey Shaun Camacho), Ubay (Galicano Atup), Trinidad (Judith Cajes), Dagohoy (Sofronio Apat) and Danao (Natividad Gonzaga).

The new mayors here constitute 42% of the 14, which is the total number of mayors within the district.

In the third district, new mayors include Valencia (Maria Katrina Lim), Garcia-Hernandez (Tita Gallentes), Duero (Conrada Amparo), Candijay (Christopher Tutor), Anda (Metodio Amper), Pilar (Necitas Cubrado), Carmen (Ricardo Francisco Toribio), Loboc (Helen Alaba) and Sevilla (Juliet Dano).

In the third district, the 9 new mayors form another 47% of the district’s number of mayors. The district has 19 towns under it.

Among these mayors listed above, three are not really new, them having been elected as mayors in the past and are now reclaiming their abandoned posts.

The three include Inabanga mayor Josephine Socorro Jumamoy, Trinidad Mayor Judith Cajes and Dagohoy Mayor Sofronio Apat.

Of the 21 new mayors elected now in Bohol, 10 of them are women executives: Sumaylo (Dauis), Montero (Panglao), Jumamoy (Inabanga), Cajes (Trinidad), Gonzaga (Danao), Lim (Valencia), Gallentes (Garcia-Hernandez), Amparo (Duero), Alaba (Loboc) and Dano (Sevilla).

The election also brings a total of 15 lady chief executives now in Bohol.

Other lady mayors who have been reelected are Tesalonica Boyboy (Carlos P. Garcia), Rosemarie Imboy (Loay), Regina Salazar (Lila), Ma. Fe Piezas (Guindulman), and Esther Tabigue (Mabini). (With Reports from Rey Anthony Chiu)