THE GUV AND THE CONGRESSMANLONG CUTS By: Atty. Salvador D. Diputado, Ph.D
(Flashback in Sept. 2009 )
There is a widely-accepted belief that the "one for all, all for one" principle is the omerta of the 3 Bohol solons- Ed Chatto, Ondoy Cajes and Boy Jala. Cajes is Chatto's runningmate in the governatorial race while Jala returns to the 3rd district. The 2nd district is left vacant so that the Guv can return to the district after his 3rd term as governor ends. The 1st district is still a toss up.
On the other side of the political fence is the group of Vice Governor Julius Caesar Herrera. Herrera is also contesting the seat desired by Chatto. Herrera has provencial administrator Tomas Abapo Jr. as his runningmate. Conching Lim is also contesting the seat desired by abapo. She wants to be herrera's runningmate. She believes she can wallop better than Abapo. Of course, She believes she has a better chance at the vice gobernatorial position under Herrera than under Chatto. She must have felt that Chatto would prefer Cajes over her. One way of saying she is more comfortable with Herrera than with Chatto. But seriously doubt if Herrera is comfortable with Conching Lim. He,he,he she must be an adorable person, quote unquote.
Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, who is also interested to take the 3rd congressional seat, must have read the body language of Edgar, Ondoy and Boy Jala. He must heard of the "one for all, all for one" and concluded right away that he has no chance under Edgar because Edgar would always pick Boy Jala for the district. This must be the reason Art Yap is aligned with Julius Herrera.
At this point in time , nobody knows who will be the anointed governatorial bet- Edgar Chatto or Julius Herrera. Both are banking on the favorable nod of Governor Erico Aumentado. One time, the Guv announced in Calape, while asking for their support, that Herrera would be next governor. He wisely ommited the date but this was taken to mean after his term ends. Another time, the Governor has also been heard telling people that Edgar Chatto was his heir apparent. The meaning is very clear -after him, Edgar will inherit his position. This means neither Edgar nor Julius can claim exclusive right over the Guv's endorsement. Both knew that. They are in agreement that the Guv's nod is crucial in getting the official anointment. And both also knew that there is good possibility that the Guv with anoint neither of them.
What happens if Edgar Chatto gets the anointment? Most likely, he will get Ondoy Cajes as his runningmate, Boy Jala as his bet in the 3rd district and the Guv in the 2nd district. Herrera will be left holding empty bag. So most likely, he will go to the Nacionalista Party. He can also go to Liberal Party under noynoy Aquino. I t is not certain if the Guv will insist in Conching Lim as Edgar Chattos runningmate. But the possibility exists because this could be his quid pro quo to Edgar. Of course, Edgar Chatto may insist in having Ondoy Cajes. With Cajes, he does not have to look after his 6, if you get my drift.
If herrera gets the anointment, most likely he will get Abapo, not Conching Lim, as his runningmate. For practical purposes, Abapo can easily fit into Herreras game plan for the province. This cannot be said of Conching Lim. Julius knows that she always has a different game plan. Herrera will most likely get Arthur Yap for 3rd district. It is not certain yet who Herrera will get for the 1st and 2nd districts.
There is a little twist here for Art Yap. Accordingly, he's got assurance that he would get the anointment in the 3rd district. If Chatto gets it, Yap will also get the 3rd district slot. Will Yap abandon Herrera just like that? And will Yap worm into confidence of chatto and Cajes at a flick of a finger? Difficult to say because Art Yap and Julius Herrera may have common political leaders and supporters in the 3rd district. Or, will Yap stay it out with Herrera even if he has to forego with his anointment with Lakas-CMD? Art Yap may have to od a balancing act here.
What happens if nobody will be anointment as official candidate? They can run as an independent. Not good because they cannot be assured of getting the party funding. They can go to other parties , of course, and there will be a race to get the endoresement and support of LP under Noynoy, or NP under Villar.
Meanwhile, the meeting between Governor Erico Aumentado and other Bohol top officials last Sept 2009 friday in Manila was supposed to iron out potential differences among partymates in the province. It turned out to be well, "bloody." A reliable source told me yesterday the Guv had a "not-so-friendly" spat with a congressman because the latter is forming parallel groups in his district that could "break" the unity of Lakas. The congressman must have felt that he was already "powerful enough" to challenge the Governor. Of course, apart from the open secret that the congressman is now filthy rich with several millions in investments in his district, it was also plain during the meeting that the Guv was facing the might of the "one for all, all for one" group of the 3 Bohol congressman. " morag klaro na man kaayo nga ready na ang tulo ka congressman nga maghimo sila kaugalingong buho. Murag ready na sila mo challenge ni Aumentado" ,another source told me. The Guv is now on a balancing act in dealing with the combined force of the 3 congressman, the source added.
When I asked the first source about his reflections of the meeting, he said " nag usik usik lang ta sa panahon. Klaro man kaayo nga di na mapugngan ang decisyon sa grupo sa 3 ka congreeman. Luoy paminawon si Guv nga mga sakop man unta ni niya." he said. And his bombshell... " Gusto pa man gani nila ilogan si Governor aumentado sa iyang chairmanship sa provincial Lakas," he stressed. The Guv serves in a concurrent capacity as provincial and regional chair of Lakas-CMD-KAMPI.
And the reaction of the Guv, I asked. The Guv simply said kuno ," Wa pa gani mo lingkud , mangilog na man mo ug puwesto."
Now, now, does this tiff have anything to do with the supposed open endorsement of the Guv to the congressional plans of Catigbian Mayor Bert Salinas for the 1st District? Does this have anything to do with the supposed dual promises of support of the Guv to chatto and also to Herrera? Or ,does this mean they could no longer find comfort on what the Guv says and what he does?
Also last Sept 2009, somebody told me that someone from the camp of Cong Chatto went to the camp of Noynoy Aquino in order to do some negotiations. Accordingly, Cong Chatto has expressed interest to join Noynoy Aquinos Liberal Party in the even he wouldn't get the official anointment of Lakas. When I asked Cong. Chatto about this , he texted back, " Not true, we have not talked to any group about party affiliations other than the party where we belong." But the source insisted the reliabilty of the information because he even leaked the supposed date when Chatto is supposed to talk to local party leaders. And he provided the name of the person who was approached and the name of the person who approached. ...Interesting ,right?
When I asked the good congressman about what transpired during the meeting last friday of Sept 2009, there was no reply to my text message. When I called him up several times, there were only rings but nobody answered. I would have asked him to comment about the other deatails of the story I got about his alleged "approach" to the camp of Noynoy Aquino. But he opted to invoke the Fifth Amendment. Of course, that is his right. I can not force him to answer my calls or text messages. And thats okay with me.
Now, now assuming this story to be true, is there a chance that Cong. Chatto will be accepted by Liberal Party? No way, no chance for that. This was the answer of a top Bohol politician who asked not to be named. " Chatto's hands are dirty. He was with the President when he went to the US and had those expensive dinners. Noynoy would not like to be associated with politicians who are close to the President," his explanation. This account about the US trip is not accurate. Cong Edgar Chatto told us once in "Kwentas Klaras DYTR-AM" that he was not with the President when she had these costly dinners. And I want to believe that probably, this politician has already "approached" the camp of Noynoy Aquino and had gotten firm assurance that he would considered. If he had that assurance, naturally, Edgar Chatto has no more chance of becoming an LP bet for governor.
Stay tuned for more...Part 2 next when we return....
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