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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 provincial 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 governatorial 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 I seriously doubt if Herrera is comfortable with Conching.
He, he, he, she must be an adorable person, quote unquote.
* * *
Agriculture Secretary Art 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 have 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 why 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 the next governor.
He wisely omitted 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 an empty bag. So most likely, he will go to the Nacionalista Party. He can also go to Liberal Party under Noynoy Aquino.
It is not certain if the Guv will insist in Conching Lim as Edgar Chatto’s 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 Herrera’s 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 the 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 the 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 do a balancing act here.
* * *
What happens if nobody will be anointed as official candidate?
Then 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 endorsement and support of LP under Noynoy, or NP under Villar or even NPC under Chiz Escudero.
* * *
Meanwhile, the meeting between Governor Erico Aumentado and other Bohol top officials last 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 Guv.
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 congressmen.
“Mora’g klaro na man kaayo nga ready na ang tulo ka congressmen nga maghimo sila ug kaugalingong buho. Mora’g ready na man 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 congressmen, the source added.
* * *
When I asked the first source about his reflections of the meeting, he said “Nag-usik-usik lang to sa panahon. Klaro man kaayo nga di na mapugngan ang desisyon sa grupo sa 3 ka congressmen. Luoy paminawon si Guv nga mga sakop man unta ni niya,” he said.
And his bombshell.
“Gusto pa man gani nila ilogan si Guv 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 kalingkod, mangilog na man mo ug pwesto.”
* * *
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 have anything to do with the supposed promises of the Guv that were reneged?
Or simply, does this mean they could no longer find comfort on what the Guv says and what he does?
* * *
Also last Friday, somebody told me that someone from the camp of Cong. Edgar Chatto went to the camp of Noynoy Aquino in order to do some “negotiations.”
Accordingly, Cong. Chatto has expressed interest to join Noynoy Aquino’s 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 reliability 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, 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 details 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 cannot force him to answer my calls or text messages. And that’s 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. Chatto told us once in Kwentas Klaras 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 be considered.
If he had that assurance, naturally, Edgar Chatto has no more chance of becoming an LP bet for governor.
* * *
The Supreme Court has decided to reset the last Sunday of the Bar to October 4.
Atty. Cristina Layusa of the Office of the Bar Confidant told me yesterday the resetting was due to the heavy flooding of Taft Avenue and other Metro Manila streets.
The flooding prompted several BIT-IC barristers to abandon their temporary “residences.”
That’s just prolonging the agony, an observer said.
More when we return, stay tuned for more!