With the help of two Capitol functionaries, some 46 municipal presidents of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) “were herded yesterday like cows being led to pasture” to elect their provincial federation president. There was no contest to contend with when the 47 ABC presidents moved to elect the favored candidate— former board member Concepcion Lim. The lady from Valencia left nothing to chance to run away with the plum post. She inherited the ABC presidency from Dr. Romulo Cepedoza, the incumbent, who decided to slide down to the number two post. The gesture paved the way for Lim's unhampered assumption of the top ABC post. The municipal ABCs were boarded in a four-car convoy that came all the way from Valencia, hometown of the newly-elected federation president. Two of the cars were identifiable with the Lim family-a Nissan Safari and a Mitsubishi Strada.

In an apparent bid to escape notice from the prying eyes of media, the convoy went all the way to the shoreline of the venue, the Bohol Tropics Resort Club. The ABCs were then seen in single file enroute to the Le Eng Restaurant, the actual site of the elections. Actually, the ABC presidency was treated like an heirloom by the Lim dynasty. It was Lim's brother, Renato, who held the ABC presidency when death overcame him during his incumbency. Renato was then succeeded by Cariso Camacho of Getafe who also died while in office. The revolving door ABC presidency turned full circle when Lim, after serving for three terms as board member, ran for barangay captain of Canmanico Valencia. She went on to grab the town's ABC post without any sign of opposition. The lady Lim's latest election was her third foray in ABC polls where she ran unopposed.

Early on in the ABC numbers game, Panglao ABC president Cereno Hormachuelos was thought to have mounted a strong challenge against Lim but his bid fizzled out when he apparently learned that the provincial presidency was already safely tucked in Lim's pocket. Hormachuelos must have felt frustrated that his candidacy was in tatters that he was a “no show” during yesterday's elections. There were conflicting reports about Hormachuelos' whereabouts yesterday. Some said that he boycotted the elections but many others attested that he was in the vicinity of the venue. He reportedly got lost when he learned that it was a useless exercise to participate in the elections knowing that he would only be ran over by the Lim juggernaut. Although Lim was uncontested, she left no stone unturned to ensure her victory. Not only were the 46 barangay captains safely housed in her Valencia mansion, the night before. There were reports that money changed hands. Lim denied to be interviewed by media after she won the ABC position. The media interview would have been the opportune time for Lim to deny or confirm allegations that she bought her way to the ABC presidency by giving an ABC president with P20,000 each. Handlers of the ABCs, normally municipal mayors, were also part of the financial package. Reports said the handlers were recipients of Lim's cash manna amounting to P20,000 each.

Eyewitnesses accounts indicated that the town ABC assembled at the Capitol grounds Friday morning escorted by the two unidentified Capitol factotums. From the Capitol, they were brought to Valencia where they stayed overnight. Only three of the 48 ABCs failed to show up in the Valencia shindig. It was obvious that Hormachuelos would not show up because he was perceived earlier as a “ serious contender”. The two others—Jagna ABC president Andrew Tadena and Sagbayan ABC head Hospicio Quiao did not join the Valencia “excursion” but participated in the elections nevertheless.. .Yesterday's ABC elections was a far cry from the last one when Lim's brother sought

the post in 2004.

Facing a determined opponent and backed up by the financial muscle of businessman Angelo Balili, the 2004 ABC political exercise had all the trappings of a full blown war where money was flowing as if it grew on trees. It was a close fight to the finish that only one vote separated the winner from the loser. Renato Lim won the tightly-fought race but not without losing a substantial pile apparently because the going rate at that time per vote was in the vicinity of P50,000.. The Lim camp in the 2004 set to saw his wards being brought to Cagayan de Oro while that of Balili's were holed up in Baguio. It was expected earlier that Balili would make a repeat performance in yesterday's elections like supporting a Lim opponent. It was learned latter that Balili threw his lot to Lim's bid citing the former board member's qualification. Lim, a doctor of medicine, was a three-time board member and Valencia mayor. A scion of the Lim dynasty, her comeback bid in politics was practically handed in a silver platter. The ace up her sleeve in seeking the ABC post was the support of Gov. Erico Aumentado and the three congressmen. With a powerhouse cast of supporters, nobody was crazy enough to contest her candidacy apparently knowing that any pretender would only bite the dust.

OTHER OFFICERS

With Cepedoza out of the race, the incumbent president chose to become Lim's executive vice president.. The positions of treasurer and secretary will be up for appointment by the ABC federation president. The board of directors was composed of: ABC presidents Jose Nicanor Tocmo of Corella; Ephraim Bomedianoof Dauis; Arlene Caadlawon of Candijay; Tadena of Jagna; Crispina Vergara of Mabini; Efren Tanjay of Ubay; Eduardo Bagol of Sikatuna; and Dagohoy former mayor Constantino Lagapa.