From all angles, there's no stopping Gov. Erico B. Aumentado now. As the only living "Top Ranking Boholano", he is next only to Bohol's most illustrious son, the late Pres. Carlos P. Garcia whose 110th birthday we marked yesterday.

Next year, he will be uncontested in seeking for his third and final term as Bohol governor. For who would dare challenge him with his milestones and breakthroughs all for Bohol's progress. This is even if ten senatorial candidates would join their logistics together to put up a gubernatorial bet against Aumentado in the 2007 elections.

As president of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, it would take an Aumentado to let the President of the Republic go to China and stood for 30 minutes as his no. 1 audience in signing the sisterhood pact with Aumentado's counterpart in Xiangxi province.

* * * * * * *

With the Ubay lad at the helm of the province, Malacanang is just a phone call away and so do with the graces from the corridors of powers.

Do you think Vicky Garchitorena of the Ayala Foundation would just find her way here to be concerned of the public high school's computer literacy and pour in half of the P19.5 million without the Aumentado connection?

Having Education Sec. Jeslie A. Lapuz as guest of honor in yesterday's CPG Commemorative Program at the Bohol Cultural Center would not have been that easy if Ricdoy is not a name Pres. Arroyo considers a force to reckon with. "Mabuhi ang Bohol!", let's join the governor in his favorite battle cry.

* * * * * * *

Before the start of yesterday's CPG Commemorative Program, we had a chat with Rep. Ondoy Cajes of the second district about the charter change and our vehement opposition to Republic Act 9344.

As for the chacha, the second district solon agreed that if Speaker Joe de Venecia pushes for his constituent assembly as plan B, it would still reach all the way to the Supreme Court just the same.

The question of whether the two houses of Congress will vote jointly or separately in calling for a constituent assembly is a constitutional issue that only the High Tribunal can settle.

* * * * * * *

For even the Journal of Proceedings of the 1986 Constitutional Commission which drafted the 1987 Philippine Constitution is silent on this point. Cajes pointed out that it was a blueprint supposedly for a parliamentary system by the 1986 ConCom that was left out in the final deliberation.

Provincial Attorney Handel Lagunay opined that even if there are only two or even one senator would sign the congressional resolution calling for a constitutional assembly, the Supreme Court could not close its eyes to prevent a constitutional hiatus.

As we pointed out in this corner last Wednesday, let's just await the Motion for Reconsideration by the Atty. Raul Lambino's Sigaw ng Bayan and the retirement of Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban this month before we join the fray. And, may we add the House Speaker's plan B once it reaches the Supreme Court too.

* * * * * * *

We joined the birthday bash of City Councilor Edgar Bompat last Friday noon at Doy's.

Vice-Mayor Nuevas Tirol Montes joined the exclusive group of Bompat's well-wishers, the city councilors and Mayor Dan Neri Lim.

It was there that the city mayor floated the so-called unification in the political exercise next year. He reiterated it during his weekly Mayor's Report over Station DYRD yesterday morning.

Let's keep our fingers crossed on this new political development for we are sure that come-backing "Smokin' Joe" Torralba will not take this sitting down.

* * * * * *

For comments and suggestions, just e-mail to the following e-mail addresses: obiter@boholchronicle.com