Aumentado’s son chosen caretaker of 2nd district

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines  — The late Rep. Erico Aumentado’s son, Erico Aristotle, has been designated by the House of Representatives as the caretaker congressman of Bohol’s second district, to serve the remaining seven months left of his father’s term.

Supporters from different towns of the province also pushed for the appointment of Erico Aristotle as replacement to his father in the congressional race next year.

At first, the family of the late congressman wanted to request House Speaker Sonny Belmonte to be the caretaker congressman of Bohol's second district.

However, Belmonte himself joined the rest of the congressmen in the country in assigning the late Bohol congressman’s son, instead.

Erico Aristotle, more known in Bohol as Aris, has been serving as area coordinator of the Office of the Second Congressional District of Bohol.

It is for his familiarity to the ongoing bills, projects and programs introduced by his father that got him the appointment as caretaker congressman of second district.

The late congressman’s remains will be flown here today, Saturday morning (December 29) in the first flight of Philippine Airlines.

From the City Airport, Aumentado’s remains will be motored to Ubay--his hometown located about 90 kilometers from the capital city. The funeral car will pass the coastal towns linked by the circumferential road, which was among his major projects since his first set of a three-term congressional seat and then as three-term governor.

Among the towns that will be passed  by the funeral are Baclayon, Albur, Loay, Lila, Valencia, Dimiao, Garcia-Hernandez, Jagna, Duero and Alicia before reaching Ubay. In each of these coastal towns, the hearse will stop for 10 minutes to give the residents  a chance to pay their last respect to the congressman who had served Bohol for about 40 years.

Upon reaching Ubay, Aumentado’s remains will be brought to the Blessed Trinity Church by noontime for the Holy Mass before being moved to the Ubay Cultural Center for public viewing.

By Sunday morning, the remains will be brought back to Tagbilaran City, passing through the other side of Bohol through the rest of the circumferential road along the coastal towns from Talibon, Trinidad, Inabanga, Getafe, Clarin, Tubigon, Calape, Loon, Maribojoc and Cortes.

In Tagbilaran, Aumentado’s remains will be brought to the Bohol Cultural Center for another public viewing. On morning of December 31, it will be transferred to his residence here in the city at Calceta Street.

Interment is set on January 5 at the Victoria Memorial Park. Prior to the burial rites, a requiem mass will be done at the St. Joseph Cathedral. (FREEMAN)