The Election Code stipulates that a Councilor is entitled to only three consecutive terms at the Sangguniang Panlungsod. For the first time that ruling has been shattered, not in utter defiance of a national tenet, but by circumventing it while toeing the line specified. Call it ingenuity; but the fact remains that no law has been broken, and everything is in proper order. The man who did this unprecedented feat is a snow-haired Mitra-isk Kenny Rogers replete with an arctic beard, extending more metaphor of wisdom and dignity to an already distinguished personification of gentlemanly savvy of the first order. These are his outstanding facial assets perched on broad shoulders and a six-foot frame that could intimidate a paranoid wimp, although he has always been perceived as lamb-meek in dealing with confrontational issues.

He capped his three of his nine years as a City Legislator as a Number One Councilor. Seeking a fourth consecutive term was not a part of his agenda, as he paved the way for his son Jojo to follow his footsteps. The father became the wind beneath his son's wings, as every father should be. Little did he know that barely five months of tutelage would find both soaring the same height. The stark reality of success is now staring happily at the face of Edgar Ramirez Bompat (ERB). He had been prodded to enter the race for Punong Barangay in the District of Dampas in the November 25 local derby, reaching the finish line in a dash of courage and conviction, trailed by 3 other competitors. The ensuing two-cornered fight for the Liga ng mga Barangay Chairmanship made him a 9-6 favorite to clinch the ABC scepter. And last Wednesday, December 11, he was “crowned” Liga President, erasing any doubt that as a political stalwart he is a fluke.

This 25-minute interview materialized at a nook in ICM's “The Buzz Café,” a few hours before his formal installation at Café Dolores (Bohol Tropics Resort), as the President of the Association of Barangay Captains, and latest Member of the City Legislature. The brief repartee was oftentimes interrupted by well-wishers, mostly his friends, who shared with him his joy of being given back the lawmaking job he did with nobility for nine solid years. LMP: How does it feel being elected again for another term as a Legislator of the City? ERB: Na-feel nako nga I must double my effort karon, ilabi na kay mi-represent ako sa mga barangay. Atong nakita nga daghan ang walay trabaho, ug nanghinaot sila nga makakita ug panginabuhian. Mangita mi ug paagi nga makahatag ug livelihood kanila aron magmalambuon ang tagsa-tagsa nila ka pamilya.

LMP: Kinsa ang uban nga milansar pagka-Kapitan sa Dampas?

ERB: Ang uban nga mikandidato mao sila si Eduardo Macalandag, Luis Alaba, ug Ondoy Abadiano.

LMP: Pila ang botante sa Dampas?

ERB: There are about 3,657 voters. Apan, 715 niini ang wala mobotar.

LMP: How many votes did you get?

ERB: 754 votes ang atong nakuha. Nilabaw lang ko ug 39 votes sa sunod nako.

LMP: Unsa ang matawag nato nga naka-inspire nimo to ran as Barangay Captain? As far as political affiliation is concerned, duna ba'y mihangyo nimo?

ERB: Interesado man ‘tang mo-Kapitan, pero duna'y ni-request nato, ang atong halangdong Mayor nga si Baba Yap. Iya kong giistorya nga kon mahimo, as a former City Councilor, pwede ba kong modagan isip Kapitan sa Dampas, aron matutukan ang maong barangay.

LMP: Kining planoha, was it hatched sa panahon pa sa miaging eleksyon sa Mayo, o bag-o lang?

ERB: Sa miaging eleksyon pa. Part of the plan nga molansar ang akong anak nga si Jojo, pagka-City Councilor, ug ako pagka-Barangay Captain.

LMP: All this time, ang imong affiliation has already been with Baba Yap.

ERB: Yes, since last election.

LMP: Sa imong pakigkita ni DNL, unsa iyang gikasulti?

ERB: Everybody knows nga part ko sa administrasyon ni Mayor Dan Lim. Nakig-istorya ko niya, ug mihangyo nga ari ko sa side ni Baba, kay mao'y gusto sa akong anak nga si Jojo, tungod kay barkada sila. Nisugot siya kay nananghid man kita ug tarong.

LMP: Sa dihang nahuman na ang imong third term, diha'y mga hungihong nga molansar ka pagka-Bokal o pagka-Vice Mayor. Nganong wala man madayon?

ERB: Wala ko modayon kay akong gi-focus ang akong attention, sa kandidatora sa akong anak nga si Jojo.

LMP: Pagkakaron, as far as political affiliation is concerned, dili na ba mahitabo nga makabalik ka ni Dan Lim?

ERB: Amigo mi ni Mayor Dan, Pare pa gani mi kay siya ang niluhod sa kasal ni Jojo. Sa akong tan-aw, nakasabot siya sa sitwasyon...way personalan. I even cried niadtong mga panahon nga nawa ko ni Mayor, kay I feel nga murag mingaw. But I had to make a decision.

LMP: Ang imong kontra pagka-ABC President was Arlene Karaan. Unsa ang imong gibati nga for the past nine years, you were in the same political party?

ERB: Para nako, kaming tanan, aduna'y katungod nga molansar paka-ABC President... may the best man win. Akong nakita nga nadawat niya, ang akong kadaugan after the proclamation.

LMP: Kinsa ang mga ni-affiliate nimo, can you name them?

ERB: Affiliated na ni sila nato kay ato man ni silang mga kauban. Kini sila mao ang mga Kapitan sa Barangay Ubujan, Dao, San Isidro, Tiptip, Dampas, Poblacion II, ug Poblacion III.

LMP: Kanus-a ang eleksyon sa pagka-ABC President?

ERB: Sa miaging Lunes, December 9.

LMP: Ang mahitabo karon, duha na mo, amahan ug anak, nga magbabalaod. What is the feeling nga magkakita mo sa imong anak, isip mga lawmakers?

ERB: Usahay naa'y mangutana, “Unsa na man imong tawag sa imong anak, Honorable Bompat na.” (Laughs) Ang titulo pormalidad lang, ilabi na kon anaa kami sa sesyon. Dili pod kinahanglan nga managsama ang among huna-huna sa tanang isyo. Pwede nga kami mosukwahi sa usag-usa, depende sa among pagtan-aw sa angay namong husgahan. Apan magpabilin ang among relasyon isip amahan ug anak, labi na gawas sa City Hall. Daghan moingon kon maka-advice ba ko sa ubang ginikanan nga ang ilang anak palansaron pod. Para nako, atong hatagan ug higayon ang atong mga anak nga mo-decide sa ilang gusto. Sa dihang anaa na ako sa akong third term, mihangyo si Jojo nga molansar pagka-Kagawad sa Barangay Dampas. Napili siya isip number one nga Kagawad. After ana, mihangyo na pod siya nga modagan pagka-Konsehal sa Syudad kay last term na man nako. Ako siyang gisuportahan sa iyang mga plano, kay tanan natong anak pinangga man nato.

LMP: Diha ko'y nadunggan sa radyo ganina, bahin niining imong deputy, duna diay ‘ta ana?

ERB: Yes, aduna'y Vice President. In case sa failure sa ABC President siya ang mopuli. After the election, ang miyembro sa Board, elected among themselves the Secretary and Treasurer. Since, ang sa Auditor nga position, wala may ni-file for candidacy, mahimo nga ako ang mo-appoint with the concurrence of the Members of the Board. Si Nick Besas, ni-file siya ug candidacy as Vice President.

LMP: In your case, dili ni pareha sa una nga usahay matunga...ang imo is full-term.

ERB: Dili pod ta kasiguro, kay basin aduna'y time nga mohangyo pod siya. Pero pagkakaron, wala pa'y negotiation bahin niini.

LMP: Sa pagkakaron, sa line-up sa Sangguniang Panlungsod, pila ang kang Baba, kang Dan, ug ang kang Toto?

ERB: Ang kang Mayor Baba, lima. Kang former Mayor Dan Lim, upat. Kang Vice Mayor Toto Veloso, duha...siya ang ika-tolo.

LMP: So, it's hard to reach a unanimous decision. Especially, if each Councilor votes on party lines.

ERB: That's the beauty and advantage of the democratic process. All aspects of an issue are dissected and analyzed before making a decision; more so, if there are conflicting opinions. We, at the SP, are concerned about the common welfare, and that would be the guiding principle when we make our verdict on issues fielded.

LMP: What are your priority projects?

ERB: Ang number one nato nga project sa side sa Barangay, mao kining rehabilitation sa atong mga kadalanan. Next, kining ownership sa yuta nga gitukuran sa atong Barangay Hall ug Health Center sa Dampas, kay gipanag-iya kini sa Diocese of Tagbilaran.

LMP: Unsa ang imong tan-aw sa bahin ni Councilor Aleckoy Lim, nga medyo nahimo nga fiscalizer? Daghan kaayong proyekto ang Executive, nga medyo di niya gusto.

ERB: Para nako, ma-hamper ang plano sa administrasyon ni Mayor Baba, sama pananglit sa pag-appoint ug mga qualified personnel nga iyang magamit. Lately, nipasa sila ug resolution, suspending the authority of the Honorable Mayor, to appoint contractual employees. Maybe, they will lift it up pinaagi sa negotiation.

LMP: Has the Sangguniang Panglungsod the power, nga Executive function man ang kang Mayor Yap?

ERB: Yes, Executive power na, pero under the law, kinahanglan nga upon the appointment bythe Mayor, the SB will ratify.

LMP: Ang nahitabo, aduna na'y gipang-appoint ang Mayor, apan wala gi-ratify?

ERB: Last July and August, gi-ratify pa to. Diha'y nipasa ug resolution paghatag sa Mayor ug authority to appoint, now ilang gi-suspend na pod. During the time of Mayor Dan Lim, about 240 items ang wala i-fill-up, that is why dako ug savings ang City. Karon, not a single item has been filled-up by Mayor Baba. There were about ten items filled up by former Mayor Dan Lim before his exit in the City Hall. As of now, wala pa'y plano si Mayor Baba nga mag-appoint sa mga items nga vacant. He is taking his time to study all angles before making his decision, which is a mark of a good leader.

The balance of power at the SP now permanently swings to one side (the Yap administration) in a 3-cornered power struggle. The Liberal Party has 3 with Atty. Alexander Lim and Betty Torralba, and Vice Mayor Toto Veloso as Presiding Officer. Bag-ong Bol-anon has 4: Atty. Oscar Glovasa, Philip Besas, Atty. Nerio Zamora, II, and Lucille Lagunay. Pundok Panaghiusa has 5: Atty. Adam Jala, Bebiano Inting, Joseph Bompat, Gerry Pabe, and finally Edgar Bompat. It is a formidable membership of gifted Lawmakers who have the good of Tagbilaran as their primary goal.

Councilor Edgar R. Bompat's entry in the august body is a feather in the cap of Mayor Baba Yap's administration; although the incumbent Mayor has repetitiously made it clear that he wants the SP to function independently – that is, without any intervention from the Chief Executive.

The Mayor has always been consistent in his stand that, for a democratic government to survive, it should be participative, beyond prejudicial reproach, and entirely transparent.

In the midst of this development-oriented backdrop, Lawmaker Edgar R. Bompat will represent the Barangay Captains of the 15 Districts of Tagbilaran City. A tall order – but a challenge he has sworn to take, with no ifs and buts. Meanwhile, the public is standing by, assessing every move he makes.

Will this fourth Consecutive term usher in a fifth, and possibly on a notch-higher level?

(Website: www.loypalapos.com ; email: loy.pal@gmail.com ; cellphone: 09981701129)