MikeLigalig.com

As acknowledged Bohol Political Godfather, Governor Rico Aumentado's hands will be more than just full the next months. He will have to do the Ultimate circus Balancing Act to keep all political comrades elsewhere smiling. Can he?

With mega infrastructures tucked under his belt, the Governor needs to ensure that the momentum of growth is sustained beyond 2010. One claimant to his throne is First District Representative Edgar Chatto, Tourism Committee head of Congress, former vice governor, long-time town mayor and three termer congressman who is believed to be within a "sneezing distance" to PGMA - being another student of hers. Edgar belongs to the expansive Chatto political clan based in Balilihan.

Another would-be vice governor Julius Herrera, who had reportedly been promised a crack at the governorship at the end of Rico's term in exchange for not messing the political waters in the past - for unification's sake. Belonging to a wide political Herrera clan (headed by former senator and labor leader Boy Herrera), Julius is not about to slide to be first district congressional candidate on somebody's say-so.

What about multi-awarded actor-director Cesar Montano who is charming his way into the Boholanos' hearts with his regular presence here? And three-termer Roberto Cajes who is (without saying so) dangling the potential candidacy of his wife Trinidad Mayor Baby Cajes as Second District candidate - to get a Rico anointment for the governorship? Aside from this, we know his closeness to the Kampi bloc identified with the First Gentleman. As we all know, after three terms, Governor Aumentado is seeking to reclaim that same Second District.

What is strange is the relative quiet in the First District slot where only the name of Board Member Yul Lopez is being floated by the Opposition. Where is the former Governor Rene Relampagos in all these?

In that same mode is Tagbilaran City, gateway to the island paradise, ruled by a City Mayor who could have done much more for the city than creating real and imagined enemies. Who is that Sir Galahad riding that white horse?

Political tension is thickening, one could cut it with a knife. One thing sure, after many dull provincial elections, the 2010 electoral slam-bang fights will be nothing less than Pacquiao and Hatton fighting in the ring.

IS SECRETARY ARTHUR YAP FOR REAL?
The boyish Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap has filed as a bona fide voter of Loboc town of the Third District recently. With that act, what he told the Chronicle last year as a mere yearning to serve the province has turned into a reality.

Married to a Varquez, a large clan in Bohol, Yap is among four Cabinet secretaries rumored to be running for Congress. The other three are: Silvestre Bello III and former Press Secretary Jesus Dureza of Davao and Press Secretary Cerge Remonde of the Cebu South District.

Yap's name has also often been mentioned among many senatoriables, a post Yap told the Chronicle he was not too keen about.

If for nothing else, the name of Yap is a fresh name in Bohol politics - for ages dominated by the same families. The Third District, for instance, has been a known bailiwick of political families like the Zarragas, the Balites and lately the father-and-son tandem of Eladio and Adam Jala, who succeeded his father after his three terms.

The elder Jala is reportedly eyeing a comeback after his son's interlude. Adam's election in the third district was contested by former governor Rene Relampagos who documented his charges of electoral fraud against the Jalas during the 2007 election. Relampagos' practical nature of seeing the futility of expensive political protests let the issue pass.

The battle between Yap and Jala is a king-size headache for the Palace as both are identified with the administration. And Secretary Yap, with the billions of pesos at the Department of Agriculture at his disposal, has been more than visible in his many agri-related projects here, so many in fact that one can say - Betcha by Gulay!

Doubtless, even without being elected yet, Yap can already dispense funds on high-grade vegetable and fruit seeds, cold storage facilities, farm to market roads, seaport developments and job creation as Job Czar of the Presidential Management Staff. Yap will have to show that it is within his power to channel these opportunities for the province he claims he wants to serve. As they say in street language, "put your money where your mouth is."

One of the youngest cabinet secretaries, SACY as he is called (for Secretary Arthur C. Yap) was appointed twice as Agriculture secretary on October 18, 2005 and on May 3, 2006. His first stint with government was with the PITC (international trading firm of government) of the DTI before he became chief Administrator of the National Food Authority (NFA).

A lawyer by profession, he was in the AB Honors Class for Economics and Management at the Ateneo University, where President GMA once became his professor in Economics.

He recently spoke at Davos International where Yap batted for the environment - whose protection is essential for the interests of farmers and fisherfolks of agriculture which affects 30% of the Philippine populace and 20% of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product).

The people of the Third District will have to choose between the performance of the Newcomer and the Old-Time Jalas in their 12 years as representatives of that district.

And potentially, who can deliver more in the next three years and craft sensible legislation as member of the Lower House.

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