Barely a year before the filing of certificate of candidacy next year for the 2025 mid-
term elections, political cracks both in the national and local scenes have started to
surface defying long-held expectations of unity.
This early, in Bohol province, Team Abante of Gov. Aris Aumentado may
disintegrate sooner than expected after the governor’s wife, Second District Rep.
Vanessa Cadorna Aumentado, fired her first shot, an opening salvo, taking down
prospects of having ex-City Mayor Baba Yap as her group’s congressional bet in the
First District.
In a Facebook post, not only Rep. Vanessa shot down the endorsement of Calape
Mayor Julius Herrera for Yap, she also unplugged the possibility of unification route
in the local elections.
“Never will I endorse someone nga wala mo pusta or salig sa grupo pagkinaunhan
especially sa panahon nga ang TEAM ABANTE nag need ug tabang & worst gi
endorse pa gyud atong ka-atbang,” Rep. Vanessa reacted to Herrera’s endorsement
of Baba, husband of Tagbilaran City incumbent mayor Jane Cajes-Yap.
Barely a year before the filing of certificate of candidacy next year for the 2025 mid-
term elections, political cracks both in the national and local scenes have started to
surface defying long-held expectations of unity.
This early, in Bohol province, Team Abante of Gov. Aris Aumentado may
disintegrate sooner than expected after the governor’s wife, Second District Rep.
Vanessa Cadorna Aumentado, fired her first shot, an opening salvo, taking down
prospects of having ex-City Mayor Baba Yap as her group’s congressional bet in the
First District.
In a Facebook post, not only Rep. Vanessa shot down the endorsement of Calape
Mayor Julius Herrera for Yap, she also unplugged the possibility of unification route
in the local elections.
“Never will I endorse someone nga wala mo pusta or salig sa grupo pagkinaunhan
especially sa panahon nga ang TEAM ABANTE nag need ug tabang & worst gi
endorse pagyud atong ka-atbang,” Rep. Vanessa reacted to Herrera’s endorsement
of Baba, husband of Tagbilaran City incumbent mayor Jane Cajes-Yap.
“Unya karon gusto mosungag sa iyang original ka grupo, now tell me how can you
trust these people? Rep. Vanessa said on a post that has endorsed the candidacy of
former Cabinet Secretary Leoncio “Toloy” Evasco Jr. as potential opponent of First
District Rep. Edgar M. Chatto.
In the 2022 elections Yap’s wife, Mayor Jane, ran under the banner of Padayon Bol-
anon of Cong. Chatto and then Bohol Gov. Art Yap.
Now, in a bold declaration on FB, Rep. Aumentado considers Baba Yap an outsider
in Team Abante Bohol circle, or someone she cannot throw her trust because of
previous political affiliation.
Rep. Aumentado went on saying that she puts premium importance on loyalty.
“What made you think nga ikaw pod dili nila sungagon in the future?
That’s why LOYALTY TO ME IS SO IMPORTANT!” she said on FB in a post thread
that supports an Evasco candidacy.
Rep. Aumentado added: “LOYALTY MATTERS because it definitely reflects the kind
of person you are. Always keep the loyal ones.”
Baba Yap, in the meantime, has not issued a public statement on Mayor Herrera’s
endorsement last week expressed during Calape’s annual fiesta celebration.
The former city mayor has not also commented on Rep. Aumentado’s choice.
In a separate Facebook post, Rep. Aumentado said: “Cabsec Jun Evasco is my
Congressman for First District of Bohol if he decides to run.”
Rep. Aumentado added: “He (Evasco) deserves my 100% support for giving also his
all out (sic) support to TEAM ABANTE.”
Meanwhile, many political observers have been convinced that Evasco, for the last
time, may throw himself into the political arena in 2025, six years after then Third
District Rep. Art Yap defeated him in the 2019 gubernatorial combat with a very slim
margin of more than 2,000 votes.
SARA LEAVES LAKAS-CMD; GMA GOES BALLISTIC
The change-prone political landscape in Bohol may also be reflective of the recent
divisions in the ruling political party in the country.
In a surprising move, Vice President Sara Duterte and concurrent Department of
Education Secretary has tendered her irrevocable resignation as member of the
Lakas-CMD party, an early departure from the party that was the wellspring of her
dramatic vice-presidential candidacy in the 2022 elections.
As this develops, former President and Senior Deputy Speaker of the House Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo issued a statement following her removal from her deputy post in
the House of Representatives.
In both statements, Duterte and Arroyo appeared to be courting a political disaster
should they part ways with Pres. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
Arroyo was demoted in the House leadership after rumors of impeaching House
Speaker Martin Romualdez, a cousin of the President, emerged out of nowhere.
On May 17th, 2023, former President Arroyo received news that Deputy Speaker
Dong Gonzales was elected Senior Deputy Speaker in her place.
In a statement released by Arroyo, she congratulated Gonzales and expressed her
hope that his new position will help him fulfill his mandate to represent their fellow
Kapampangans.
Arroyo also took the opportunity to reflect on the event and explain her thoughts on
the matter.
She stated that such events are part and parcel of Philippine politics and that she
does not want it to precipitate or intensify any tendencies towards early politicking.
Arroyo emphasized the importance of supporting the legislative agenda of Speaker
Romualdez and President Marcos and using her experience as a former President to
help out when called upon to do so.
In her statement, Arroyo also addressed reports that she was suspected of plotting a
“coup” against Speaker Romualdez.
She clarified that some of her actions may have been misconstrued and reiterated
her political objectives: to represent the 2nd district of Pampanga, to support the
legislative agenda of Speaker Romualdez and President Marcos, and to use her
experience as a former President to help out when called upon to do so.
Arroyo concluded her statement by emphasizing that being Speaker once more is no
longer part of her political objectives and urged her Lakas-CMD partymates to
support Speaker Romualdez in his role.
She also paraphrased American Civil War General William Tacumseh Sherman by
saying, “If nominated, I will not run, and if elected, I will not serve.”
This statement by former President Arroyo serves to clarify her political position and
preempt any needless politicking so that the House and President Marcos can focus
on their work with minimum distraction.
Two days after Arroyo was kicked out of House leadership, VP Sara Duterte
announced resignation
On May 19th, 2023, Vice President Sara Duterte announced her irrevocable
resignation as a member of the Lakas-CMD party.
In a statement released by Duterte, she expressed her gratitude to all party
members for their support and emphasized the importance of unity in advancing
shared dreams for Filipinos and the Philippines.
Duterte stated that nothing is more important to her than being able to meaningfully
serve Filipinos and the Philippines, with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr leading the
way.
She also emphasized her commitment to serving the country and its people and
called on all leaders to focus on their work and leave a legacy of a strong and stable
homeland.
In her statement, Duterte also addressed the issue of political toxicity and
powerplay.
She stated that her trust in the Filipino people to lead and serve them cannot be
poisoned by political toxicity or undermined by execrable political powerplay.
Duterte concluded her statement by thanking her fellow party members and
expressing her commitment to serving the country and its people.
This announcement by Vice President Duterte serves as a call for unity and focus on
the work that must be done for the betterment of the Philippines.