PDP-Bohol in "dilemma" over Pimentel move to LP

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines — “We are caught in a dilemma” over the uncomfortable situation of the party by its national leaders’ jockeying, according to Doloreich Dumaluan, newly named provincial president of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Bohol during a party assembly here recently.

Dumaluan, former mayor of Panglao town, said he was not running in the 2012 elections but, together with party stalwart, Ric Laroma, confirmed that the Bohol officials will have to deal with the intricacies on launching the campaign for reelectionist Senator Koko Pimentel.

Pimentel, who is PDP national president, has bolted the United Nationalist Alliance of Vice President Jejomar Binay, PBP chairman, and opted to be with the Liberal Party of President Noynoy Aquino.

Pimentel called up the PDP-Bohol leaders here, during the provincial assembly, and explained to them that his decision to be an LP guest senatorial candidate was borne out of principle because he could not run together with Migs Zubiri who was believed to be part of an electoral fraud in the 2007 polls.

Meanwhile, the provincial council comfirmed Pimentel’s appointment of Dumaluan to replace Provincial Board Member Cesar Tomas Lopez as PDP-Bohol president.

The party also elected ex-PB member Felix Rengel as its vice-president and the other officers: Eddie Zabala of Maribojoc (secretary-general), Engr. Charles Cabalit (treasurer), Faustino Arias (auditor), Ric Lagroma (membership committee chair), Benjie Culpa (education committee chair), Romy Sales of Valencia (finance committee chair), Jerry Pabe (info committee chair) and Susano Peñaflor (livelihood committee chair). — THE FREEMAN