The Team Unity composed of the Administration coalition parties has now nine candidates for senator.

Latest to signify his intention to run under the Team Unity is reelectionist Sen. Edgardo Angara, president of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP).

According to Speaker Jose De Venecia, the Administration's senatorial candidates are Representatives Prospero Pichay, Jr. and Juan Miguel Zubiri, President Chief of Staff Michael Defensor, reelectionist Senators Angara, Ralph Recto and Joker Arroyo, former Senators Vicente Sotto III and Tessie Aquino-Oreta, and Ilocos Sur Gov. Chavit Singson.

Considered under the Administration ticket are actors Richard Gomez and Cesar Montano, and Gina De Venecia, wife of Speaker De Venecia.

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On the other hand, the United Opposition (UNO) has Sonia Roco, wife of late Sen. Raul Roco of Aksyon Demokratiko as the latest recruit for senatorial candidate vice San Juan Mayor JV Ejercito who opted to withdraw from the senatorial race and instead seek for reelection as mayor.

Other senatorial bets of UNO come from the Wednesday Group, namely: Senate President Manny Villar and reelectionist Senator Francis Pangilinan.

Earlier, the UNO announced eight senatorial candidates, viz: former Sen. Loren Legarda, reelectionist Sen. Panfilo Lacson, former Sen. John Osmeña, Represenatives Francis Escudero, Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III and Alan Peter Cayetano, San Juan Mayor Ejercito, and lawyer Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III.

Former Rep. Nikki Coseteng of the Nationalist People's Coalition Francis Escudero wing s being considered under the UNO slate.

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In the City of Tagbilaran, the Holy Name University Research Center released the results of its survey conducted from Sept. 30 to Oct. 30, 2006.

In the mayoralty race, incumbent Mayor Dan Lim got a rating of 74 per cent while former Mayor Jose V. Torralba obtained 25 per cent. The remaining 1 per cent was undecided.

In the vice mayoralty race, the results were as follows: Former Vice Mayor Jorge Cabalit, 36 per cent; incumbent Vice Mayor Nuevas T. Montes, 28 per cent; and incumbent City Councilor Jose Antonio "Toto" Veloso, 14 per cent.

With Mayor Lim leading in the survey, could former Mayor Torralba catch up with the lead? It remains to be seen.

Could Councilor Veloso catch up with the lead of Vice Mayor Montes, if former Vice Mayor Cabalit opts not to run? Remember that ex-Vice Mayor Cabalit has opened his option to run if he is not appointed as judge of a municipal circuit trial court. What will happen if retired General Alberto Olario pursues his mayoralty bid? Your answers are as good as mine.

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The PDP Laban Executive Committee, by a majority vote, decided to seal its coalition with the Lakas CMD headed by former Mayor Torralba.

Any decision of the PDP Laban Executive Committee can be appealed to the PDP Laban City Council composed of 1986 chapter presidents and chapter secretaries general.

Under the coalition agreement, the group of Torralba will field the candidates for mayor and vice mayor and six city councilors while PDP Laban will have four candidates in the city slate.

According to reports, the candidates for the Lakas CMD are Torralba for mayor, Veloso for vice mayor, incumbent Councilors Lucio Balbin, Oscar Glovasa and Edi Borja, businessman Antonio Wycoco, Mariquit Oppus, and Bibiano Inting, for councilor.

The candidates of the PDP Laban for councilor are incumbent City Councilor Edgar Bompat, former City Councilor Felipe dela Torre, Jr., and Cogon Kagawads Jerry Pabe and Charles Cabalit.

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On the other hand, Mayor Lim is expected to be named as chairman of Kampi for the City of Tagbilaran. According to reports, Lim's slate would include reelectionist Vice Mayor Nuevas Montes for vice mayor, reelectionist Councilor Edgar Kapirig, businessmen Jingo Rama and Mario Uy, and Kagawad Batchoy Alba, for councilor.

Former Vice Mayor Cabalit has been lured to join the Lim ticket. But Cabalit was non-committal in deference to his nomination as judge.

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The Lakas-PDP Laban ticket had been a formidable team in the 1995, 1998 and 2001 elections. However, in the 2004 election, the Lakas-PDP Laban coalition collapsed after then Mayor Torralba decided to support his wife as mayoralty candidate, junking Cabalit in his first mayoralty bid. Torralba also disregarded some terms and conditions of the Lakas-PDP Laban coalition agreement.

In the 1998 and 2001 elections, the Torralba-Cabalit team defeated the Lim-Angalot and Lim-Borja tandems, respectively.

But in 2007 election, will be Lakas-PDP Laban team triumph? Political analysts should consider the following:

o Torralba has no longer Cabalit as his running mate. Will Councilor Veloso bring enough votes to make Torralba win?

o Torralba is no longer the incumbent mayor, since Lim is now the incumbent Mayor. In the 1998 and 2001 elections, Torralba was the incumbent mayor.

o Torralba had been leading in the surveys for the 1998 and 2001 elections. But in the 2007 elections, Lim is leading the surveys over Torralba by a wide margin.

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For comments and reactions, send mail to Atty. Jorge D. Cabalit, Cabalit Law Office, 74 Belderol Street, Tagbilaran City or send e-mail to: viewpoints@boholchronicle.com