2nd district Congressman Erico Aristotle Aumentado called the report of the Provincial Information and Media Relations (PRIMER) about a number of 2nd district barangay officials switching away from his camp as “fake news”.
This was the reaction of the solon as he finally returned this newspaper’s call regarding the matter.
This newspaper has been contacting the solon (through calls and text messages) since Feb. 18, 2022 for his comments on issues especially regarding his alleged ownership of a Dauis “mansion”, but to no avail.
The Bohol Tribune reached out to Aumentado prior to the publication of the latest news item on Feb. 27, 2022, but was unable to reach the latter.
This newspaper also tried to get the side of the representative of the 2nd district regarding the issue on Feb. 28, 2022 but he finally returned the calls only today, Mar. 1, 2022.
Aumentado said that the news item released by the PRIMER is “fake”.
“Fake news ang istorya nga ni switch ang barangay officials because sa issue ng mansion, nga naa koy mansion nga balay,” Aumentado told The Bohol Tribune in an exclusive telephone interview.
He added: “Pero kon naa man mi-switch, it’s not because of the [mansion] issue, kun di’ [tungod
sa] monetary offer gikan sa kampo ni Gov. Yap.”
Aumentado said he received reports that allegedly the camp of Gov. Arthur Yap approached barangay officials offering cash with amounts ranging from P50,000 to P100,000.
“So mao na ang nahitabo karon nga ilang gi-lihok sa 2nd district, which is true pod kay mao nay report nga nakuha sa mga mayor nga gipangduol ang mga kapitan,” Aumentado further said.
As a reaction to the news item published by The Bohol Tribune based on the PRIMER report on Feb. 27, 2022, Aumentado posted his comments on his account.
He said: “Unsa? Mi switch side daw ang mga kapitanes sa Segundo Distrito tungod sa issue2 na Mansion… Ka luoy ba pud sa taga PRIMER. Abi ko ba updated mo? Hehe wa diay mo kahibalo nga ari man tig higdaan ang mga Kapitan ug uban pang Brgy Officials sa balay sa Dauis. Nauwahi diay mo sa balita? Wa diay mo gana inyo cctv ug drone nga mahalon?”
He continued: “Hehehe Bitaw na-andan na sa mga Aumentado nga magpahigda gyud mi ug mga tawo sukad pa sa panahon sa akong Amahan [the late Gov. Erico Boyles Aumentado]. Kamo kaha pwede pod lagi kahigda ang mga tawo sa inyong balay?”
Aumentado is seeking the highest elective position in Bohol against incumbent governor Yap in the coming May polls.
The 2nd district solon is no longer eligible for re-election and has tapped his wife, Vanessa Aumentado, to run for the position the former is about to vacate by end of June 2022.