Philippine Councilors League (PCL) Bohol federation president Brigido Imboy is “Boy” to most people. At the head of the biggest league of elected public officials in the province, he is no easy picking at this time when the next PCL presidency election is barely just over two weeks away. Without doubt, he is no boy in a man's game. Imboy may not necessarily be nominated as outstanding public official, let alone compete for the most outstanding PCL provincial federation president. He had his share of bad press and, like most politicians, has skeletons just waiting to be let out of the closet. For sometime, he did a disappearing act not only from the PCL scene but even from his duties as ex-officio member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and as Gov. Erico Aumentado's point man at the Provincial Peace and Order Council. Imboy however seems to have weathered the storm. Those who doubt it simply have to consider the fact that his wife, May Lim Imboy, now rules as the mayor of the town of Loay. Although he eventually settled for his old post as a councilor after making all the noises about aspiring for the third congressional seat, Imboy is no pushover. After all, he is not just a councilor of Loay. He is also, for all intents and purposes, a first gentleman. Imboy seems to have shaken off the cobwebs of his brush with controversy as he goes about town to solicit support for his PCL reelection bid. The man just seems unable to shake off the ladies in his career. While the premiere challenge to his PCL throne is being poised by a lady councilor from Garcia Hernandez town who goes by the name of Tita Galendez, Imboy also draws strength from another lady – who else but Mayor May Lim-Imboy?

There is no reason why Imboy should complain however. There are three main reasons why she is an asset to his reelection bid. First, she is his lucky charm. Second, she is his no. 1 campaigner. Third, she is his bagman, or bagwoman as the case may be. All told, she is her secret weapon that Boy Imboy is wielding to ward offany pretender to his PCL throne. If Imboy is not lucky, we don't know what is. If he is not lucky, he would not be standing where he is now. Few people doubt the mayor's ability as a campaigner. She is one lady who does not take no for an answer. Those who dared to say no the first time around know this.

Thirdly, no one doubts the vast war chest at her command – no less than the growing Lim-Enerio conglomerate that counts among the establishments under its sway the Lite Shipping Company, the Bohol Cable TV Corporation, Eskaya Resort, Casa Filomena, Gajah Tunggal, a tire service distribution outlet, among others. Those aspiring to challenge Imboy and ruffle the mayor's feelings should think twice and hard if they are ready to equal the purchasing power of this expansive economic war machine. There are those among the ranks of the PCL who think that there is such a thing as a conscience vote, that not everybody's vote is for sale. No quarrel about that. In fact, this concern is already part of the Imboys gameplan If money is not all there is in the coming PCL polls, then the Imboys have a ready answer for that. Consider the network of connections they have cultivated all these years. In the field of maritime service, the family owned Lite Shipping Company, with its fleet of roro vessels, can readily accommodate applications for apprenticeship for any marine or nautical graduate. Not only that. With their vast connection to manning agencies for overseas posting, the Lims and the Imboys are just the right persons to approach for employment favors abroad. Another thing, the Imboys are the ones to turn to when people have eye problems. Only recently, May Imboy was named director coordinator of Bohol Carol Eye Foundation. A charity foundation, it is temporarily attached to the office of Dr. Oliver Yu, an ophthalmologist, at the Ramiro Community Hospital.

These so-called reformists contend that Imboy, who pulled off a stunning upset of then reelectionist PCL president Urbano Lagunay who was supported no less than the governor and the three congressmen, failed to turn the PCL around during his incumbency. They say his habitual absenteeism and the neglect of PCL members in the last three years will take a toll on his reelection bid. There is truth to that. And yet, there is also no denying the fact that in recognizing these weaknesses, Imboy's camp has upped the ante to silence the critics. For one who knows how to go up against the odds like he did the last time around, Imboy is certainly no wimp. Those who think they can topple him from his perch simply by digging up dirt better think twice before they dirty their hands. Imboy is no ordinary first gentleman. As pointed out earlier, he has a lucky charm, a no. 1 campaigner and a bagwoman of the first order. Those who intend to beat him must have to contend not just with the people on his side but more importantly with the arsenal at his disposal. After all, he is not a defending champion for nothing.