By the Bohol Chronicle
"There will be elections in May next year," assured Gov. Erico Aumentado after attending last Thursday's merger meeting of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD (Christian Muslims Democrats) party presided by Pres. Gloria Arroyo at the Manila Hotel.
Gov. Aumentado was part of the presidential entourage which left for Korea yesterday for a five-day trip abroad.
Upon arrival from his trip with the President to Korea and Moscow, he will meet with the Lakas-Kampi party members in the province to get an inventory of probable party candidates for the 2010 polls even as he admitted that Bohol is predominantly an administration bailiwick.
The governor likewise confirmed that there are very few identified with Kampi as compared to those under the Lakas-CMD. He mentioned Rep. Adam Jala as belonging to Kampi.
He has instructed Prov'l Administrator Tomas Abapo, Jr. to make a clear inventory of the party affiliations of the administration mayors who will still be running next year.
Gov. Aumentado ends his authority as regional chairman of Lakas following last Thursday's merger meeting presided by the President herself. He is also the provincial chairman of the party.
For his part, Rep. Edgar Chatto who was prominently seen close to the President during the Manila Hotel meeting said he welcomes the merger as it will strengthen the administration party.
"We will await what comes next," Chatto said while showing confidence that "all is well" in this merger move of the President. The last termer solon is acknowledged to be a close ally of the President since she was a senator having hosted most of her Bohol visits.
The first district solon is one of the gubernatorial timbers together with Vice Gov. Julius Herrera and movie actor-director Cesar Montano.
With the party merger, it might follow that a party convention might decide on whether it will be Chatto or Herrera to be declared as the official Lakas Kampi-CMD official bet for governor.
Reports revealed that Chatto has been seen visiting the towns all over the province with last termer Rep. Roberto Cajes showing indication for a Chatto-Cajes tandem.
On the part of Herrera, he has declared his gubernatorial dream as "non-negotiable." The vice governor is reportedly paired by some Capitol officials with Prov'l Administrator Tomas Abapo, Jr.
However, until this time, Gov. Aumentado has kept under wraps his personal choice on whom to anoint as the party's official standard bearer here.
"It will be a party decision," the governor said.
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