LAKAS-LDP: A BOGUS COALITION?
The Bohol Standard
By: Fred C. Amora
Issued on March 14, 2010
There is no LDP-Lakas coalition for this election and the coalition between the two parties can only be recalled, about fifteen (15) years ago, in 1995.
This revelation was offered by Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) chair Senator Edgardo Angara in a talk with Governor Erico B. Aumentado last week in Manila.
The new information had further strengthened suspicions that what was invoked by Lakas provincial chairman Cong. Edgar Chatto that there is a "coalition" in justifying the entry of former governor Rene Relampagos, an LDP member, as the party's official congressional bet in the first district was hatched only by few Lakas leaders in Bohol but without the blessing from the LDP national hierarchy.
The revelation was made by Aumentado last Friday, during his regular morning radio program, to clarify insinuations that he knew all along the deal to field ex-governor Relampagos as Lakas official candidate for Bohol's first congressional district, replacing a loyal party member Catigbian Mayor Robert Salinas that had earlier shown interest in the position.
TRUTH OF THE MATTER
"I was not part of the plan and in fact, I was just informed about it", Aumentado said.
"I really don't want to talk about this but pointing to me to cover some party leaders' blunder has compelled me to tell what really happened," the governor was forced to answer when asked by media in his Friday radio program.
Supported with documentary evidence, Aumentado, showed to the media a letter dated Nov. 24, 2009, from the Lakas Provincial Committee chaired by Cong. Edgar Chatto.
The letter addressed to Gov. Aumentado as Lakas Party Regional Chairman, informed him that puportedly, "with a solid determination to hand in the win for the administration, it is opening its door to flexible avenues including the coalition agreement".
The information told Aumentado that an LDP member, in the person of Relampagos, was already been chosen as the party's official candidate. The same letter did not asked him if he agrees or may have other candidate in mind.
In the letter, the signatures of Congressman Edgar Chatto, Robert Cajes, Adam Relson Jala, former Cong. Eladio Jala and Secretary Arthur Yap appeared, showing that Aumentado was not part of the idea to coalesce with LDP to accommodate Relampagos into the party official line-up.
Himself the former provincial party chairman, Aumentado said he initially ran a survey, to have a guide who he would endorse as party candidates in the coming May elections. This was made, in preparation for his turnover to Chatto as provincial party chairman.
The survey showed Salinas as top congressional candidate for the first district, Aumentado for second and Yap for the third district.
Admitting he was shocked upon learning of the entry of Relampagos, who he beat twice in the gubernatorial contest in 2001 and 2004, Aumentado said, what he took into consideration was the party solidarity and for that, he did not object and had to join in endorsing Relampagos in a party meeting Nov. 28, 2009 in La Roca Hotel this city.
MORE SHOCKERS
The Aumentado-Cajes issue was eventually resolved when the Lakas National Party Committee finally decided to reinstate Aumentado as official candidate.
But the conflict did not end there. Despite the party decision, Judith Cajes did not withdraw and now remains a challenger of Aumentado; and adding confusion to the party itself is her claim to be the Lakas-annointed candidate despite the revocation of her CONA.
Party chairman Chatto is also seen tagging along the lady Cajes in his many sorties in different towns and barangays of the second district.
Aumentado, now on his third and last term as governor said, the surprising turn of events, indeed ,had wedged gaps and dealt wounded feelings to some party members.
But he added that we must also consider the over-allwelfare of Bohol.
The graduating governor said he would have wanted Lakas Provincial Chairman Chatto to call for a meeting to mend the problems.
"But it seems, what the Chatto camp has chosen is a confrontational stance, something that has further deepen the rift within the party," Gov. Aumentado lamented.
Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=26238.0
