The widening rift between Loboc Mayor Helen Calipusan-Alaba and floating restaurant operator Tessie Labunog-Sumampong worsens after a Temporary Restraining Order issued by a local court was defied by the lady mayor. Mayor Alaba was restrained by the Regional Trial Court in Loay under Presiding Judge Dionisio Calibo not to allow Labunog-Sumampong to operate her own floating restaurants and the use of the Loboc Tourism Complex. The floating restaurant business in Loboc which has become popular among tourists, both foreign and domestic, uses the complex as docking port before the boats sail off through the fabled Loboc river. Although the conflict has since been brewing, it catapulted to alarming levels when Labunog-Sumampong’s Riverwatch ,brimming with guests mostly foreigners, was stopped by the lady mayor’s elder brother, the former mayor Leon Calipusan, from going on its business of river boat cruising.

To Sumampong, it was the last straw that broke the camel’s back prompting him to seek the legal assistance of topnotch lawyer Alexander Lim. Lim then swung into action by seeking relief in RTC Loay. Last Thursday, Judge Calibo, issued the TRO preventing the new mayor from enforcing a previous order prohibiting Sumampong’s bancas from using the town complex. Why Mayor Alaba and Sumapong are each other’s throats was traced to the last elections. It was gathered that Sumampong supported the mayoralty rival of Mayor Alaba.