MikeLigalig.com

By the Bohol Chronicle

Bohol’s political waters went into complete disarray when 25 administration mayors, just converted into the NP (Nacionalista Party) last week, swore in back as Lakas-Kampi members Friday before provincial political stalwart Gov. Erico Aumentado.

The NP conversion earlier shook the political equation as this swung the majority control of Bohol’s 47 towns into the Nacionalista Party.

Had the recantation of political loyalty not transpire at the Governor’s mansion Friday, the mayoralty profile of the Bohol would have resulted in 25 (NPs), 13 (Lakas Kampi) and 9 (Opposition).

With the new political somersault – resulting from the Governor’s loyalty check – the Lakas-Kampi’s near party-monolith is back in place. Now the dominant administration party controls 38 of 47 municipal mayors and 12 of the 13 provincial board members.

Of course Gov. Aumentado, Vice-Gov. Julius Herrera and the three congressmen Edgar Chatto, Roberto Cajes and Adam Jala all belong to the administration bloc.

Eyebrows were raised when suddenly 25 mayors took their oaths of allegiance Sunday before NP president and former senate president Manny Villar while the Governor literally turned his back as he left for an official trip to Korea with President Gloria M. Arroyo.

FLIP-FLOP FOR REAL OR STRATEGIC?

Political pundits, however, are not as easily swayed.

While President GMA and Gov. Aumentado appeared to have cracked the whip, people are  still pointing to the relative proximity  of the governor to Senator Villar where the former served as Deputy speaker while the Villar was Speaker of the House of Representatives.

In a random survey conducted by Station DYRD’s “Radyo Merkado” program, 87.5% said “it would be impossible for the mayors to take their oath to Villar’s NP without the knowledge of Gov. Aumentado whose leadership is respected by the Lakas-Kampi mayors.

A mass oath-taking for Lakas-Kampi municipal chairmen  of the newly-merged party including the 25 mayors who earlier joined Villar’s camp took place.

Those who jumped to NP last Sunday was led by Jagna Mayor Exuperio Lloren, former LMP president and Carmen mayor Boy Molina, who is closely identified with the Villar camp. Molina, however, was not present during the Friday Lakas-Kampi  oath-taking.

But Gov. Aumentado was emphatic during the meeting that the administration coalition here is critical because through that, the province can easily access several programs and projects from the national government.

“Bohol’s growth, development and economy depend on the strong alliance with the administration of President Arroyo,” the governor stressed.

Also present during the meeting were Vice-Gov. Herrera, Rep. Edgar Chatto (1st District), Rep. Robert Cajes (2nd district) and former congressman Atty. Eladio Jala, representing Rep. Adam Relson Jala (3rd district).

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