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One reason why Governor Erico Aumentado has a very flexible schedule is because he has somebody he can rely on in the capitol when he’s out of the province.
He knows that the provincial government is in good hands when he decides to travel. Which is becoming frequent and regular.
He picked a politician who is just right for the job, and who can wield the title “little governor” sans a swell head.
Tommy Abapo is that guy.
As provincial administrator, he mans the office of the governor when the guv is out.

* * *

I heard that Tommy Abapo is eyeing the vice governatorial seat comes May 2010.
He has two choices – Edgar Chatto or Julius Herrera.
When I asked Cong. Ed Chatto weeks back, he said Tommy Abapo told him he’s open for drafting as Edgar’s running-mate. And he’s being considered as a possible, Edgar said.
But his body language speaks different.
He is constantly seen in the company of outgoing solon Ondoy Cajes in his provincial sorties. In fact, somebody told me there is an agreement kuno to pool their resources together.
So, it is possible that Edgar Chatto may have Ondoy Cajes as his running mate.
That leaves Tommy Abapo with Julius Herrera.

* * *

Many are in agreement that anybody who gets the “basbas” of governor Erico Aumentado will have an edge because the gov enjoys terrific clout all over the province, especially in the 2nd district.
The guessing game these days is who between Julius and Edgar will get the blessings of the guv.
When asked who would get his blessings last week during his weekly radio program, the guv expertly parried and avoided being prematurely put in the bind.
He said there is a process that will be followed. There is a committee that will decide and he’s just one vote in that committee.
That is the textbook reply.
The unspoken reply of course is that whoever gets the “basbas” of the gov will easily hurdle the so-called “committee.”
And the guv is not about to open his lips yet.

* * *

So who stands a better chance at getting the basbas, Edgar Chatto or Julius Herrera?
Hard to tell.
Many times, I’ve heard the guv telling other people that Edgar was his heir apparent. Of course, Edgar was present when the guv said those words.
But I also know that right there in Calape, the guv told the Calapenhons that Julius would be the next governor.
And since the time he became vice governor up to the present, Julius has never given the guv a headache.
He’s fully supportive of the guv, his supporters say. One reason why the guv is terribly successful in “stealing” projects for Bohol, to the consternation of other provinces which were left holding an empty bag.
The guv has a lot of room to maneuver outside of the province because his flank is protected.
He does not have to guard his 6 because he knows that Julius can be relied upon to toe the line.
In this respect, he owes Julius big time. Not to mention his promise in Calape.
Along this line, the guv also owes Tommy Abapo big time. He has been a good lieutenant-cum-ally.
It is in this milieu that I daresay the Julius-Tommy tandem enjoys better chances at getting the “basbas” than that of the Edgar-Ondoy tandem.
Overall, the Julius-Tommy and Edgar-Ondoy battle royale comes May 2010 should be very interesting.

* * *

So Rene Relampagos has indeed transferred registration from the 3rd district to the 1st district. That was confirmed by a very reliable source last Wednesday.
In our last column, I queried if Rene is gunning for the congressional seat or the board seat in the 1st district.
Well, somebody told me last Wednesday that Rene is a possible shoe-in for the congressional seat. And the source told me “the door is wide open” for Rene’s ticket to ride with the guv’s express train.
No chance at sheltering under Cong. Edgar’s train, I asked.
The source said that is very unlikely.
Rene still nurtures “hurt feelings” towards his former party mates, and that includes Edgar Chatto. He felt abandoned, betrayed and that sort of feeling, my source said.
It is possible that Rene and Gov will join forces, the source said, because they have one common experience with Edgar Chatto.
The gov lost in Balilihan, the source said. The same goes with Rene.

* * *

There is a belief widely endorsed by some people in the capitol that the 3 congressmen, Ondoy, Edgar and Boy Jala would stick as one in the coming May polls.
The body language shared by Edgar and Ondoy may already indicate the possible grouping.
As such, Boy Jala’s congressional bid in the 3rd district should most likely be under the same political shelter.
The only missing piece is Edgar’s anointed in the 1st district congressional race.
Is it possible for him to draft Rene in his fold?
Possible also, considering the present political dynamics. Yes, politics is addition, and all that. Never mind those hurt feelings in the past.
Possible also that Edgar will endorse his wife Pureza in the congressional race. After all, it is common knowledge that Pureza proxies Edgar everytime there is conflict in schedule and the event is too important to be assigned either to Tatay Billy or BM Ae Damalerio.
In this regard, Pureza is no stranger to the leaders of the district. And she enjoys the free use of the “Chatto” for name recall purposes.
If this materializes, then it’s also battle royale between Rene Relampagos and Pureza Chatto in the 1st district.

** *

The 3rd district congressional fight is also very interesting.
Sitting congressman Adam Relson Jala is Boy Jala’s son. While father is campaigning to reclaim his old seat, yes, it’s all in the family, his son is sitting as congresman.
Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap expects to have his hands full in the campaign trail.
He told me weeks back that Boy Jala is a very strong opponent. He has retained his leaders and supporters in all the towns of the district. He also dispenses Adam’s projects to the different barangays like he never left the position at all.
And Arthur Yap was already dumbfounded with the clout of Boy Jala.
But I gave him another disturbing thought to consider.
Not only is Boy Jala very strong, you should also consider that during the campaign period, his son is the sitting congressman, with several millions in pork barrel to boot. This makes the Jala express train as powerful as a 4x4 off-road vehicle.
And he was speechless.
Apparently, he didn’t factor in the role of Boy Jala’s son in the total picture.

* * *

But he is not discouraged.
Arthur Yap is fighting along the path of development. He dispenses projects left and right in the different barangays of the district. His billions in departmental budget come in handy because he can liberally sprinkle them in the district, if he wants.
And many intelligent voters in the district are appalled, insulted even, by the “all in the family” political dynamics of Boy Jala.
And very recently, there are talks that elder brother Dr. Elpedio Jala may also launch his candidacy for a board seat in the 3rd district.
He’s retiring comes November, in time for the advance filing of the certificate of candidacy if the automated polls should materialize.
As of now, the idea is just that, an idea. Even Comelec officials are uncertain if the automated polls would get a green light.

* * *

Meanwhile, the van operators in the province of Bohol will meet on Tuesday to formally organize and coordinate their sentiments and aspirations.
Among the issues that should be discussed is the problem involving the franchise. Unless they can secure a franchise to operate, they will always be under the mercy of the corrupt TMG officials.
Bears watching because this is the first time that the van operators have consolidated their forces. When united and they speak in one voice, they become a force to reckon with in the tourism industry.
More when we return, stay tuned for more.