CALAPE Mayor Atty. Julius Caesar F. Herrera has initially endorsed a troika of women power in what he called a force to reckon with for provincial board member in the first district of Bohol under the Aumentado-Balite banner come May 2025.
He said that Gov. Aris Aumentado and Vice-Gov. Dionisio Victor Balite need a strong ally in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan so legislations for development may not be impeded.
He endorsed Capitol human resource manager Mariquit Derikito Oppus, who is about to retire about seven months from now.
Oppus is paired with incumbent SP Member Lucille Lagunay and Herrera’s daughter, Goldie Herrera, who did not make it in the last elections.
Oppus has yet to confirm if she is for the political big league fight though the political situation remains fluid.
She is perceived and being eyed to be the vice-mayor of now city councilor Atoy Torralba, once the latter decides for mayoralty run against incumbent city Mayor Jane Cajes Yap in 2025.
But initially she wanted to try again for city councilor. But there was no sign, yet, whether she’ll be running under a certain party.
Oppus was then chief of staff of Herrera when the latter was then the vice-governor from 2001 to 2007. She threw her hat into political arena and was elected as city councilor in that year (2007) when now City Vice-Mayor Atty. Relson Adam Jala was elected as congressman in third district, defeating then Gov. Rene Lopez Relampagos.
Oppus was replaced by now Loay mayor Atty. Lahar Ayuban as chief of staff of Herrera after she was catapulted to the city council.
Herrera said that he will make a strong representation for the trio’s endorsement to Aumentado and Balite.
First district which is composed of 14 towns and a city, like the second district with 14 towns, is entitled to three provincial board members. The third district, the biggest with 19 towns, four BMs are needed to sit in the SP to satisfy the regular number of BMs in the province. (ricobedencio@yahoo.com)
