longcuts

They were colleagues in the good ole days of the Kabataang Barangay (KB) headed by its national president Imee Marcos.
Congressman Edgar Chatto headed the provincial group.
Unlike the current group headed by “nation president” Jane Censoria Cajes, the KB under Imee was a real force to reckon with.
For one thing, she was the daughter of the strongman Ferdinand Marcos whose word was the law; no questions asked or you’ll disappear.
In terms of affluence, well, there might be some similarity somewhere.
A texter told me that in the current crop of legislators, Cong. Ondoy Cajes has been listed kuno as one of the richest.
And I happen to believe that it’s possibly true.
* * *
Anyway, when Cong. Edgar Chatto started implementing his dream to replace Gov. Erico Aumentado, he also started contacting his former colleagues in the KB.
Right in their first meeting, the outpouring of complete support from the other KB presidents was spontaneous. The reception was also heart-warming.
It was a reunion of sorts.
There was no doubt in their minds whatsoever that it was one very important occasion.
* * *
Proof of their unity was revealed during a survey.
The mechanics of the survey say that the respondents need only to call and express his preference for governor.
One text message to all KBs all over the province and presto, mission accomplished.
As one, the KBs called up the radio station and right there and then, an outstanding survey rating was generated.
Congressman Chatto leads the pack.
Bravo.
* * *
When the opposition heard of the gimmick, it was easily duplicated.
And the result was reversed. Chatto was trailing.
No way, the pollster said, the result could not be utilized because it was corrupted.
So they did not report the result of the survey, although it was also available online.
Anyway, the survey gimmick was the KBs first victory in the battle of perception.
* * *
But when the CONA issue broke out and Chatto was accused of betrayal after that unity brouhaha in the church, in the Comelec and in Bohol Tropics during dinner, some KBs began to reconsider.
Some started asking if the Edgar Chatto that they knew before is the same Edgar Chatto who is asking for their support come May 2010 elections.
A ranking KB member told me a lot of their colleagues believe that somehow, Cong. Chatto was involved in the shenanigan with Cong. Ondoy Cajes.
Especially that Chatto has allied himself with the most notorious mayor of Bohol as his running-mate.
* * *
According to my KB source, some KB colleagues started thinking that long before the elections, they were not summoned.
Long before the elections, they were not recalled. As if they did not exist at all.
But when his political plans for governor were firmed up, that’s the time he started recalling his long lost KBs.
They realized right there and then that the hand of friendship was a fake. It was coated with something else.
It was nothing but political friendship. They were summoned because of the political ambitions of Edgar Chatto. Otherwise, they did not exist at all in his vocabulary.
Of course, the reaction was also spontaneous. There was no meeting of sorts. Perhaps, there were text messages but the point is, they shared the same apprehension over the persona of Edgar Chatto.
“Karong mga panahona, mi lie-low usa ko sa among KB-KB kay morag wa na ko kasabot ani. Mora man ug gipahimuslan lang mi ani” the KB source told me.
* * *
A lot of them, the source told me, still believe that Edgar Chatto is basically a good man.
But his political ambitions, the source said, stand in the way of his excellent virtues.
* * *
One of the issues raised by Catigbian Mayor and Bohol-LMP president Bert Salinas is they are treated as second-class citizens.
He was booted out from his congressional plans and in his place was installed an outsider in Rene Relampagos, an LDP. It was an LDP victory over Lakas-Kampi in a Lakas-Kampi backyard.
It was a terribly painful defeat for Bertsal.
So how did Edgar Chatto, as Lakas-Kampi provincial party chair, justify Rene Relampagos’ entry?
There was a coalition. And it was the decision of the national hierarchy to coalesce. See, we have nothing to do with that. So don’t blame me.
* * *
Last Friday, Governor Erico Aumentado said this is not true.
There is no such coalition being forged between Lakas-Kampi and LDP.
He got this confirmation from LDP president Edgardo Angara. Even DILG chief Ronaldo Puno made similar confirmation.
The only coalition they can think of is that in 2005.
So what coalition is Cong. Edgar Chatto talking about?
Is he making this up?
* * *
Remember that Cong. Chatto and Rene Relampagos are an old issue.
They did it together when the SALCON issue broke out.
Rene was the gov and Ed Chatto was the vice gov.
Rene merely implemented what Edgar came up in the SP with SALCON.
But in the election that followed, Rene was the casualty and Edgar was victorious. And that was because the blame was focused on Rene.
Credit that to Rene’s cockiness and Edgar’s smart diversionary tactic.
* * *
Anyway, the only way to justify Rene’s entry to Lakas was through a coalition.
Forge a coalition and presto, everything will fall into place. The problem with forging a coalition is they could not make it local otherwise, there will be mass exodus. And they would be charged of being a despot.
So to lend authority and credence, and escape scathing questions from the media, they have to have a coalition forged at the national level.
So that’s what they did.
Timely discovery is remote because who would challenge the word of Cong. Edgar Chatto?
* * *
But the disclosure of Gov. Aumentado last Friday destroyed all that.
There is no such coalition between Lakas-Kampi and LDP in the national level, save that in 2005.
This conflicts with the statement of Cong. Chatto, right?
* * *
Another issue raised by Bertsal is that as provincial party chair, Cong. Chatto did nothing to their request for a meeting to thresh out problems and concerns of the party.
Bertsal said they wrote to Gov. Aumentado but because Cong. Chatto is the provincial party chair, the matter was referred to Chatto.
When asked about this, Chatto spokesman BM Ae Damalerio insisted that Chatto acted on the matter.
Again, Gov. Aumentado said last Friday that Chatto did not do anything.
There was no meeting; no consultation either.
The gov said he even prevailed upon the group of Bertsal to wait for some time until Chatto has addressed the problem.
But nothing was done so Bertsal and company made public their loss of confidence to Cong. Edgar Chatto’s leadership.
The statement of Gov. Aumentado was corroborated by Jagna councilor Senen Lloren, who is running under Chatto as provincial board member in the 3rd district.
When interviewed by Dave Responte of DYTR, Lloren said Cong. Chatto did nothing about the matter.
That’s two in a row, right?
* * *
In the controversial incident in Bohol Plaza last week where Chatto and his running-mate Conching Lim came uninvited during the socials of the Buenavista officials, the popular belief that he is “sleeping with the enemy” was also confirmed.
In his campaign sorties, Chatto is doing the rounds with Trinidad Mayor Bebe Cajes who is not a Lakas-Kampi but an independent congressional candidate in the 2nd district.
Under ordinary circumstances, he should have been doing the rounds with the Gov because they are both Lakas.
And Cajes is not a Lakas.
So how come Cong. Chatto was with Bebe Cajes instead of the gov?
* * *
No need to answer, of course.
Cong. Chatto has decided to ally himself with Bebe Cajes and Cong. Ondoy Cajes.
And contrary to his public declarations, he is formally and informally endorsing her candidacy.
Which prompted the Gov to say that “kon disiplinado pa na siya nga party man, di unta to niya angay buhaton.”
Wa diay disiplina!
As in physics, if there is an action, there is always a reaction.
So if Chatto is for Cajes, should the Gov also work for the candidacy of Edgar Chatto?
* * *
Now, in last week’s PDC meeting, Cong. Chatto, Cong. Cajes and Conching Lim were invited.
But they did not come.
Instead, they sent representatives.
This prompted an observer to say “Wa na sila maanad sa kalihokan na invited ug guests jud sila, mas type nila ang mag-gate crash.”
Pagka-sakita!
And all the while, Conching Lim is boasting that “it’s all over but the counting.”
More when we return, stay tuned for more.