The much awaited “dream team” of City Mayor John Geesnell Yap and Vice Mayor Jose Antonio Veloso under the Liberal party (LP) was finally sealed which aborted an earlier scenario of a head-on fight between the camps of both top city leaders for next year’s election.
This came two days after Mayor Yap took his oath to the Liberal Party before presidential timber Mar Roxas in Manila last Thursday.
However, the final slate of the Yap – Veloso tandem will still be finalized this week as guidelines are being set for the “unity agreement” in consultation with the respective groups’ key leaders.
The two top city officials, together with City Kagawad Agustinus “Dodong” Gonzaga met yesterday to iron out crucial political matters especially on the finalization of the 10-man slate for city councilors.
Gov. Edgar Chatto and Rep. Rene Relampagos, LP provincial and district chairmen met the three local officials in a closed door meeting at the Governor’s Mansion.
Last night’s two-hour meeting sealed the unity of Yap and Veloso which is the clamor of majority of the city residents as recorded during two separate random surveys conducted by the top-rated “Inyong Alagad” and “Radyo Merkado” radio programs of station dyRD, Most of the respondents said the city is in “good hands” under Yap and Veloso, the latter being the presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panlungsod
Gov. Chatto told The Chronicle after yesterday’s meeting that the crucial meeting was a breakthrough in the relentless effort to unite Yap and Veloso, the latter who is his brother-in-law.
The LP provincial chairman declined to comment on who will compose the city slate.
Yap, Veloso and Gonzaga will finalize the selection of the 10-man city ticket within this week.
Earlier, it was reported that Veloso demanded a 5-5 composition in the city slate while Yap asserted that the five incumbent city councilors under his administration should automatically be part of the ticket. They are councilors Adam Jala, Jojo Bompat, Jerry Pabe, Dulce Glovasa and Pepot Besas.
The final selection of the 10-man ticket will be the subject of a series of discussion and consultation during the next few days as the filing of the certificate of candidacy is set on October 12 to 16.
Meanwhile, Gov. Chatto said that the selection of their mayoralty bets in Bohol’s 47 towns will be finalized this week in time for the filing of their certificates of candidacies starting the following Monday,
It maybe noted that the province is a predominantly administration bailiwick with majority of the incumbent mayors under the Liberal Party.