Former Carmen Mayor Che Toribio Delos Reyes yesterday finally broke her mystery-filled silence and unveiled her political plans not only for the upcoming Oct. 28 barangay elections but also for her highly anticipated political comeback in 2016. Giving a rare interview with the Post yesterday, Toribio-Delos Reyes disclosed that all is well with her when “God is with you.” While the 2013 election is over, the Post has asked the former mayor whether she has kissed politics goodbye for good. “I am not leaving politics,” Delos Reyes said matter-of-factly when sought for comments for her political masterplan in 2016 during an exclusive interview with the Post. “If you have good plans for Bohol, you cannot just leave Bohol. Mobalik ka para sa mga tawo nga mituo sa imong mga maayong plano ug damgo sa atong probinsya,” Delos Reyes said in a phone interview yesterday. Five months after Delos Reyes lost in the gubernatorial combat against re-electionist (Chatto), the former mayor of Carmen town is apparently not giving up Bohol, with her ubiquitous involvement in the Philippine Councilors’ League (PCl-Bohol) elections which saw her bet, Getafe councilor Antonio “Tony Pet” Ouano Jr., trampling the administration’s contender, Carmen councilor Ramonito “Monching” Torrefranca.

Delos Reyes’ involvement in the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP-Bohol) elections on Aug. 19 was also palpable. However, the LMP election remains in deadlock after presidential aspirants Inabanga Mayor Roygie Jumamoy and Bien-Unido Mayor Nino Rey Boniel failed to resolve the tie-score. Reports reaching Bohol media have indicated that Delos Reyes’ political influence during the LMP-Bohol election had tilted the balance of power in the province after the seemingly underdog candidate, Boniel, who was leaning on Delos Reyes’ financial muscle, managed to put up a fight in which the results had shaken the political matchmakers in Bohol. “Dili ko motalikod sa mga nitabang nato,” Delos Reyes said, adding that she would make herself more visible in the coming days as she makes early preparations for a 2016 political showdown.

Barangay election plan

In the interview, Delos Reyes has made it clear that in the Oct. 28 barangay elections she would be highly visible as a force to reckon with. “Sa tanan nga kauban nato ug mitabang kanato, kita usab motabang kanila karong eleksyon,” Delos Reyes said. Asked whether her financial support could be felt during the barangay elections, Delos Reyes answered in the affirmative. As she laid out her masterplan for the barangay elections on Oct. 28, Delos Reyes told the Post that she already has a chosen bet for the provincial Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) elections, the winner of which will seat as an ex-officio member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP). “Naa na koy manok para sa ABC president sa province,” the former lady mayor said. She noted that her favorite contender for the ABC top post is not coming from Tagbilaran City, but from the third district of the province. Delos Reyes, who revealed she would rev up her social media presence in the coming months, has dismissed rumors that she is gunning for a barangay captain position. “I won’t settle for less. No, I am not running for barangay captain,” she told the Post yesterday.

PARTING WAYS?

The Post took the opportunity to confirm reports that Delos Reyes had parted ways with former city mayor Dan Lim, her supposed handler in the 2013 elections but failed to deliver to Delos Reyes the promised victory. While she was clearly evasive not to make any categorical answer, the former lady mayor neither confirm nor deny the insinuation that she has since severed her political relations with the former top City Hall occupant. According to post-election reports, Delos Reyes was banking on Lim’s political ingenuity in the best tradition of his vaunted “how-not-to-lose formula” only to discover albeit lately that it was all sound and fury signifying nothing. When asked to comment on rumors that her relationship with the former city mayor of Tagbilaran had soured, Delos Reyes answered: “I am civil to everyone. I am a friend to all.”

ROAD TO 2016 IS CLEAR AS THE SKY

All things are clear now: Delos Reyes is open to the possibility of a rematch against Gov. Edgar Chatto, or if the fate of the looming rematch is hazy, Delos Reyes said she would seek the congressional seat in Bohol’s third district. “I can run against Art Yap,” said the former mayor of Carmen tersely. “It’s either I will run as governor in 2016 or I will run against Yap,” she said. Delos Reyes believes that her political comeback in 2016 would dismantle the bad publicity she got in the 2013 elections. “I know that God is with me,” she said. “Dili mawala si Che sa 2016.”

VP BINAY ON HER BIRTHDAY

Meanwhile, Delos Reyes has confirmed to the Post that Vice-President Jejomar Binay is in close contact with her, fueling speculations that Binay has set her eyes on Delos Reyes as the most sought-after political persona in Bohol, not Dan Lim as earlier reported, for the 2016 presidential elections. There were talks that right after the results of the last elections where Lim and his cohorts lost badly, the vice-president immediately called up Congressman-elect Aris Aumentado and his counterpart in the third district Arthur Yap for a possible alliance in 2016. As she marked a new milestone in life on her birthday, Delos Reyes disclosed to the Post that she had gifted herself with a Mercedes Benz (sports car edition) and a luxurious yacht. Although she refused to name the price tag of her new acquisitions, Delos Reyes said her loss in the 2013 elections did not affect her but has instead made her stronger and more hopeful for a 2016 political comeback.