Former City Mayor Joe Torralba, now assistant secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), declared last Friday that he is ready to make a political comeback as he will run anew for city mayor in the 2007 election which is barely 10 months away.

NEXT MAYORALTY CLASH? Former City Mayor Joe Torralab (r) is warmly welcome by City Mayor Dan Lim (l) during last Monday's 40th Charter Day celebration where the former received the citation as one of the "Pillars of the City." ------------------------------------------------------------

He issued the statement even as he admitted that Vice Mayor Jaz Montes, who was the running mate of his wife, City ABC president Betty Torralba, seems not to be his immediate choice as running mate. The former chief executive said that public pronouncements including her "body language" seem to indicate that she (Montes) is now in close harmony with the administration of City Mayor Dan Lim. "I will not be surprised if Montes will be Lim's choice as running mate for the next elections," he said.

The name of City kagawad Jose Anotnio Veloso has surfaced as a possible choice for Torralba's running mate. However, it awaits the "blessings" of Rep. Edgar Chatto who is his brother-in-law.

Asked as to the possibility of a return tandem with former Vice Mayor Jorge Cabalit, the former city chief executive said no feelers have been sent to him regarding this political scenario.

Political observers said that a Torralba-Cabalit tandem could be a strong force against Mayor Lim considering that both have huge clans in the city.

Efforts to get Cabalit's statement proved futile. However, reports revealed that the former city vice mayor is pursuing his interest to join the government's judicial system as 11 courts in the province remain to be lacking of judges.

Torralba, who is a Lakas-CMD, likewise said during the same interview over dyRD that he, together with Gov. Erico Aumentado and Cong. Edgar Chatto have always been talking about his political come back.

He took a "leave" from politics after he completed his nine-year or three-term as city mayor after which his wife, city ABC Pres Betty, ran during the 2004 election but lost to Lim.

After undergoing a triple heart- bypass several years ago, Torralba said that "by the grace of God, I'm back in good shape," ready to go for another mayoralty battle.

He also confirmed during the same interview that retired Boholano General Abet Olario has sent feelers on his interest to run for city mayor, on the event that he (Torralba) will decide not to bid for mayor.

In fact, Olario is slated to meet him on Tuesday this week to discuss the possibility.
"I welcome his interest to become a public servant," Torralba said as he admitted that City Kagawad Macky Olario has confirmed to him the interest of his older brother to run for city mayor.

PANGLAO AIRPORT IS A FACTOR

The present position of Torralba as one of the DOTC assistant secretaries is considered a factor in making his final decision, a political aide close to him told the Chronicle during an interview.

Revealing this on condition of anonymity, the Chronicle informant said that if the P3.2 billion Panglao Bohol International Airport project will commence early next year, then Torralba might withdraw his mayoralty bid considering that he was already designated as airport project manager.

Torralba will then become the "king maker" and campaign manager on whoever will run against Mayor Lim who is presumed to run for his second term, the same source said.

RELAMPAGOS OUT

Former governor Rene Relampagos who was earlier floated to run for city mayor is finally out from the short list of probable city mayoralty bets.

Relampagos confirmed to media during informal interviews that he has filed his residency in Pilar town in order to qualify to run for congressman in the third district of Bohol which will be vacant after Rep. Eladio Jala will end his third term.

There are other reports which claimed that Relampagos must have filed his residency in Loay town, hometown of his wife, Imee Adiong Relampagos.

But either Loay or Pilar makes no difference since both towns are part of the third congressional district.

There are reports that the former governor has been assured of the blessings to become the official administration bet for the third congressional district.