If you think ex-Carmen Mayor Conchita “Che” Toribio was a political goner after her defeat in the 2013 gubernatorial fight against incumbent Gov. Edgar Chatto, think again. In a show of “non-partisan” generosity, the feisty ex-mayor virtually stirred a hornet's nest when she played Santa Claus to delegates from Bohol attending the 9th Philippine Councilors League Congress at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia, in Pasay City last March 5-7. Setting aside partisan bias, the former mayor through her political lieutenants, handed P2,000 each to Bohol PCL delegates representing her advance “Holy Week” gift. In a check with the Bohol attendance sheet, more than 400 municipal and city councilors attended the confab. The main highlight of the three-day event was the election of national officers which saw Paranaque Councilor Alma Moreno winning the presidency.

It was gathered from those who benefited from the former mayor's largesse that even the municipal councilors of Balilihan were not spared from the gift-giving spree. Balilihan is a factor in the Torribio benevolence because the town happens to be the hometown of the former mayor's political nemesis in the gubernatorial race. As to the beneficiary of the cash bonanza, they showed no qualms if at all there's a string attached to the money given by the ex-mayor. It appeared that what was important to the Bohol delegates was that it was heartily given even if majority of them are closely identified with the powers that be, in this case Gov. Chatto, who is manning the ramparts of the provincial leadership. Politicians identified with ex-mayor Che were also visible during the convention. The likes of Cong. Aris Aumentado of the second district, Mayors Sample Tirol of Buenavista, Rey Nino Boniel of B-Unido, Marlon Amila of Tubigon and Tita Gallentes of G-Hernandez were hopping from table to table to exchange pleasantries with the local delegates.

Cong. Arthur Yap of the third district was also there to see to it if delegates from his district were also in good hands. Cong. Rene Relampagos was nowhere to be found in the congress considering his attendance during a tourism confab in Germany. He was with Anda Mayor Dodong Amper in that European sortie. It was understandable that the ex-Carmen mayor was making her presence felt in the PCL convention on account of her role in the victory of Getafe Councilor Tony “Pet” Quano as president of PCL-Bohol. Incidentally, the PCL president won the position he was aspiring for as vice president of the Visayas region. He was with the ticket of the winning president. A group of vice mayors also attended the national gathering of PCL members. Seen during the affair were City V-Mayor Jose Antonio Veloso, V-Mayors Pureza Chatto of Balilihan, Francisco Gonzales of Trindad , Lito Dajalos of G-Hernandez, V- Mayor Reyes of San Miguel, V-Mayor r Dave Duallo of Buenavista, and Vice Mayor Virgilio Fortich of Tubigon.