As we have discussed in this corner in the previous columns, we called them as the kings of the road in Tagbilaran City. They can do whatever they want while traversing along the city streets. They can pick passengers at any point, take a left turn using only their feet, chose the passengers they like, do not follow the traffic lights and drive without the courtesy to other motorists. During election time, they act as a spokesman of a candidate by telling their passengers on political issues while driving them to their destinations. Some of them even post campaign posters at the back of their tricycle units. Most of all, they dictate the passengers on how much is the tricycle fare they like. That's why the public usually call them unscrupulous and erring. Unfortunately, the candidate they back up during election usually emerged as the winners in the race they are running. Most of the time, the candidates they back up during elections do not give their concerns a priority.

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The other week, an incident involving our sister-in-law who arrived through a direct flight from Manila, drove shivers down our spine because an erring, unscrupulous and son-of-a-gun tricycle driver demanded P150 for her fare from the airport to the Unitop in downtown Tagbilaran. This was to the extent that our sister-in-law only carried her hand bag. In asking P150 from his passenger, how will he justify the fare considering that the distance between the airport to the Unitop is less than two kilometers. Will he pass by from the airport to the roller-coaster road in going to the Cogon barangay hall then take the right turn along J.A. Clarin Street then take another right turn at the corner of the Philippine National Bank in CPG Avenue passing by the Bohol Quality and the newly-opened MOA (Mall of Alturas) then to Unitop? That's why these tricycle drivers do not get any blessings. They are more ruthless than the taxi drivers in Cebu and Manila.

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Unless the provincial and city governments will join hands in going after these shenanigans, the tourism industry in the province cannot really take off because these kings of the roads are the very devils towards the prime industry in the province. These tricycle drivers practically kill the golden egg. Apparently, their political built-in among politicians during elections made them untouchables and immune to any public attacks. Politicians fear them as they may go after them during election time. A lot of them became suspects in different criminalities in the city ranging from hold-up and even rape of their passengers. But who could stop all these things when tricycle drivers here believe that they are indeed the kings of the road?

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We finally got the confirmation that Mayor Rosemarie Lim-Imboy of Loay town has all her eyes in to become Bohol's no. 2 official come the Bohol elections in 2016. The confirmation came from Board Member Boy Imboy whom we have a talk last Friday in Loay. The Sunday Post reported on mayor's political overture in previous issues but we were just excited to know the mayor's posturing right from the mouth of her husband. We have seen the Loay mayor in several town gatherings being uploaded in her Facebook. As to who will be the running mate of the Loay mayor, we did not dare to ask Board Member Imboy yet. It remains to be seen in the next few months.

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POSTSCRIPT: A good friend, Rocky Jimenez died last week due to a lingering illness. He was the heir of the famous Jimenez Shoes situated at the old Bohol Quality fronting CPG Avenue. He was very talented when it comes to art. As a nurse, he was employed at the city health office. He was assigned to the city jail prior his demise… There's more when we come back.